851B.01/4

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State

The British Ambassador63 called at his request. I brought up the Martinique situation by saying that this Government was concerned about possible developments of an undesirable nature there; that it had been reported to me that two British cruisers were blockading the principal harbor of Martinique, where a French plane carrier with many planes sold by this country to France and Great Britain jointly [Page 506] was anchored and also one or two French cruisers; that it also had been reported that a French merchant vessel was prevented from entering the harbor by British vessels; that the theory of our Navy was that the British may seize these French vessels and also occupy the islands with military forces, and that this would involve real trouble between this Government and Great Britain. The Ambassador promptly disclaimed any idea whatever of this kind and added that he did not consider that British ships were blockading the port but were merely observing the situation. I stated that I desired to make a suggestion for my Government to the effect that an agreement between the British and others concerned be worked out so that the French vessels and their cargo might peacefully sail to and into an American port and be interned by the United States Government, and the airplanes on the plane carrier be turned over to Great Britain, or to the American manufacturer, who could turn them over to Great Britain. The Ambassador said that he would present this proposal to his Government at once. He stated that he thought it might be accepted, although he said his Government was very much in need of the plane carrier.

C[ordell] H[ull]
  1. The Marquess of Lothian.