740.00112 European War 1939/2807: Telegram
The Consul General at Casablanca (Russell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:52 p.m.]
228. Reference Consulate’s 209, May 25, 7 p.m. Rouvier, acting for Monick now at Vichy, stated yesterday that it was imperative that French Protectorate authorities be informed as soon as possible whether economic accord is going into effect. He further stated that an answer in the negative was better than none at all. Furthermore he stated that it was advisable that I should be able to inform Monick when I made my introductory official calls at Rabat, which should be made this week. I regret to appear to be in the position of seeming to force the Department’s hand but the above absolutely represents the statements made today. Rouvier also said that the Vichy Government had telegraphed to Rabat that it had requested our Government to obtain from the British release of French vessels Schéhérazade and Winnipeg and to put accord into effect. The above statements were made in the presence of Stanton92 and the individual93 mentioned in Department’s 21 of January 2994 as well as myself.
Repeated to Tangier and Vichy with request to the latter to inform Murphy.