851B.01/29a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Matthews)
688. For your confidential information. The Under Secretary told the French Ambassador October 31 that in view of this Government’s disquiet in regard to the status of the French colonies in the West Indies, it had determined not to await the arrival of General Bona vita but had decided to send Admiral Greenslade to Martinique to discuss very frankly with Admiral Robert the situation as this Government saw it and that also this Government had decided to send an airplane carrier and patrol planes to St. Lucia in order to observe day and night the movements of French naval vessels at Martinique. Mr. Welles added that in the opinion of this Government the time had now come [Page 527] for the French Government if it wished to reassure the United States, as it had recently frequently stated it so desired, to give through Admiral Robert reinforcement of these assurances. The Ambassador was informed that while the form of this concrete reinforcement could be determined by Admiral Robert and Admiral Greenslade, this Government could under no conditions permit any indirect alien control to be exercised in Martinique or in the other French colonies in the Western Hemisphere and that it most decidedly could not agree to any modification of the existing agreement regarding the movement of French naval vessels nor the transfer of French gold and other assets on the Island so that these assets could pass into German hands.
Admiral Greenslade reported yesterday to the Department on his return from Martinique. In an extended and satisfactory conversation Admiral Robert had confirmed to him all the assurances stated in Department’s 652, October 29, 8 p.m.,85 and extended them to include removal of gold now held in Martinique for the account of the Bank of France. By further agreement a United States Naval plane will call each day at Martinique to contact United States Naval Observer and Consul stationed there also carry mail and messages.
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