740.0011 European War 1939/11192
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The British Ambassador called at my request. I said that, in the light of the new developments in the French situation, I had suggested to my associates and to the President on Saturday77 that we should proceed along three main lines: (1) Endeavor to ascertain just what can be salvaged through the Vichy Government by every kind of treatment that might be practicable and wise; (2) in the same connection, examine all phases of the matter thoroughly to ascertain what can be developed to our advantage from Weygand and the situation in Africa generally in return for cooperation by us; and (3) confer with the British. I said that it is manifestly important for us to ascertain the probable relations of the British to the French while we are going forward with points one and two mentioned above. I stated that, of course, if the British should get into open war with the French, it would mean that this country would be directly influenced thereby, and that naturally any effort to salvage much from the French situation would be rendered more or less impossible.
The Ambassador did not undertake to say what the future attitude of his Government might be in the above respect except to say that, contrary to current reports, he was of the opinion that the French have not agreed to give to Germany as much aid as Germany is seeking.
He then said that he hoped special attention would be given to Weygand by us, and that Weygand might give a favorable answer, adding, however, that his response might be entirely unfavorable or hopeless in its nature. I explained to him about the mission of Mr. Robert D. Murphy to Northern Africa, and said that I thought that both he and Ambassador Leahy would overlook nothing that could be said or done.
The Ambassador said that he had cabled to London in regard to the matter of sending a person to Lisbon and would advise us just as quickly as he received a reply.
- May 17.↩