EUR Files
Revised Draft Communiqué on the Problem of St. Pierre and Miquelon 1
The United States, British, and Canadian Governments view this incident as on a very small scale compared to what is going on all [Page 390] over the world. The problems involved relate to the safeguarding of British, Canadian and American shipping in the North Atlantic and existing international commitments. None the less it must be made clear that the Free French action was taken not only without their assent but in the face of the declared wishes of the British Government.
Accordingly, the three Governments have agreed that the principle that these islands are to be regarded in the present phase as demilitarized and out of the war shall be maintained. All armed forces will be withdrawn, it being understood that at the same time adequate steps shall be taken to assure that no radio station situated on the islands shall be used contrary to the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.
Meanwhile in the light of the relevant facts there should be no occasion for confusion or misunderstanding since there is no divergence of policy and there is complete cooperation and understanding between the United States, Great Britain and Canada in this as in other matters.
- This draft, prepared in the Department of State, is a combination of the Hull and Churchill drafts of January 2 (supra). The source text bears the typewritten endorsement: “This draft given to Mr. Churchill and to Mr. Mackenzie King on Saturday morning, January 3, 1942, by the Secretary.” The draft was approved by Roosevelt and Churchill at their luncheon meeting that day (ante, p. 158), and was then telephoned to the American Minister at Ottawa for transmittal to Mackenzie King through the Canadian Department of External Affairs; see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. ii, p. 656.↩