851.34/164: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Matthews)
733. Your 964, November 16, 5 p.m. In your next interview with Marshal Pétain please state that the Marshal’s reply to you as set forth in your telegram under reference has been given careful and appreciative consideration by the President. You may further say, by direction of the President, that should the vessels in question return to Toulon two eventualities might arise: (a) that the presence of the vessels there under present conditions might give rise to serious misinterpretation and concern on the part of public opinion in this country, [Page 489] or (b) that the present situation with regard to unoccupied France might change in a sense unfavorable to the liberty of action of the present French Government and thereby involve the assertion of direct control by the German Government over the movement of these vessels. With these two possibilities in mind the President desires to make it clear to Marshal Pétain that the offer previously communicated to him by you remains open insofar as the Government of the United States is concerned both with regard to either the purchase or lease by the United States of these vessels, as well as any other vessels in the French Navy.