Office of the Historian

Roosevelt Papers

Prime Minister Churchill to Secretary of State Hull 1

Washington, 3 January, 1942.

My Dear Secretary of State, I have tried my hand at an alternative draft written before I saw yours. I am not particularly in love with it, but I have an idea it would bring this matter to an end, which is what we all wish.

[Page 389]

I shall be in all the morning, and if you think well I will consult my own Government and Mr. Mackenzie King over the telephone.

It would be very nice to add the Governor had gone on leave.

Supposing that the Free French are recalcitrant, I should be prepared to put considerable pressure on General de Gaulle.

[Enclosure]

Draft Communiqué

[January 2, 1942.]

Suggested Statement About Miquelon

The United States, British and Canadian Governments view this incident as on a very small scale compared to what is going on all over the world. Nonetheless it must be made clear that General de Gaulle’s action was taken not only without their assent but in the face of the declared orders of the British Government. This caused embarrassment to the United States on account, inter alia, of their working agreement with Admiral Robert which provides for the maintenance of the status quo under certain well-defined conditions.

Accordingly the three Governments have agreed that the principle that these islands are to be regarded in the present phase as demilitarised and out of the war, shall be maintained. All armed forces will be withdrawn except the handful of Canadian officials necessary to make sure that the important radio station shall not be used contrary to the interests of The United Nations. The local inhabitants will be left in full exercise of their rights of domestic self-government, arrangements being made both to continue the supplies from the United States and Canada on which they are dependent and also to provide for the seasonal supply of fish to the French inhabitants of Martinique.

2.1.42

  1. The source text is a copy, with the signature “Winston Churchill” written in parentheses by someone other than the Prime Minister. The source text bears the handwritten endorsement: “despatched by special messenger”.↩