740.0011 European War 1939/10882: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:35 p.m.]
544. At 4 p.m. I had an interview with Marshal Pétain and delivered to him orally the President’s message (Department’s telegram 395, May 8, 9p.m.).
The Marshal asked to have General Huntziger65a present.
Before I delivered the President’s message, the Marshal said that he is unable to give us any useful information, or make any reply until after Admiral Darlan returns to Vichy, probably this evening, and that he does not know what demand Admiral Darlan may bring.
I also brought up the matter of German airplanes landing in Syria66 and the shipment of guns and ammunition from Syria to Irak.
The Marshal replied that the German planes landed in Syria without his permission under the pretext of Armistice Commission Control.
[Page 167]General Huntziger said that the guns being delivered are French guns that were turned over to Italy at the time of the Armistice and that are not now in the possession of the French Army.
I asked the Marshal if I may inform my Government that he does not intend to give any military assistance to Germany.
He replied that I may be sure that he will not “give any voluntary active military aid to Germany”. He stressed the qualification “voluntary active military aid”.
In replying to my expressed certainty that America will accomplish the defeat of Germany, both the Marshal and the General indicated great skepticism and asked me how much time will be required to defeat Germany.
In closing the conference, I informed the Marshal that any military assistance to Germany beyond the strict requirements of the Armistice will bring about a permanent loss of the friendship and good will of the American people toward France.
The Marshal replied that he had received the same message before.
The Marshal appeared nervous and apprehensive of its contents before the President’s message was read to him, apparently under the impression that it had to do with Admiral Darlan’s visit to Berchtesgaden, and very apprehensive about what Darlan will bring back.
In my opinion there are few demands except “voluntary active military aid” that the Vichy Government is likely to refuse.
- Gen. Charles Léon Huntziger, French Secretary of State for War.↩
- See vol. iii, pp. 686 ff.↩