851A.01/12–2541
Memorandum by the Minister in Canada (Moffat)
Memorandum of Activities on Christmas Day 1941
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12. At 10:15 [p.m.] Mr. Pearson telephoned and read me the following message from Mr. King and his colleagues, which he asked me to pass on to Washington:
“Canada is in no way responsible for the Free French occupation of St. Pierre. We have kept in close touch with both the United Kingdom and the United States on this question and have always been ready to cooperate in carrying out an agreed policy. We decline to commit ourselves to any action or to take any action pending such agreement. In the circumstances and until we have had an opportunity of considering action with the President and Mr. Churchill, the Canadian Government cannot take the steps requested1 to expel the Free French and restore the status quo in the islands.”
Mr. Pearson explained that despite a great deal of pressure there would be no statement issued at Ottawa tonight and that the situation would thus be left completely liquified, to be handled in Washington tomorrow.
13. I put through a call to Washington and got in touch with Mr. Atherton. I read him the statement from Mr. King’s train. I then said that I had two suggestions to offer for his consideration. The first was that they should start putting pressure via the British on General de Gaulle to recall Admiral Muselier of his own free will. Atherton told me that according to Lord Halifax, de Gaulle had just about the time of the occupation informed the British that all previous understandings were off and that he was going to proceed with the occupation on his own responsibility. I said that none the less he was so completely dependent on the British that they could, if they desired, put the requested pressure on him. The second suggestion was that either he or Jimmy Dunn travel to Baltimore tomorrow morning and spend an hour with Mr. King on his car before he reached Washington. As soon as he arrived in Washington he would be so involved at the White House with other matters that I did not think another opportunity would be given for uninterrupted discussion.
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- See the statement issued by Hull on December 25 ( Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. ii, p. 551).↩