Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1941, Europe, Volume II

740.00112 European War 1930/2859

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)

[Washington,] June 10, 1941.

The British Ambassador called to see me today at my request.

I gave the Ambassador to read Mr. Murphy’s telegram No. 234, June 9, and likewise the telegram from the American Consul General in Beirut, No. 200, of the same date.⁹ I also gave the Ambassador to read the note¹⁰ which the American Ambassador in Madrid^10a will present to the Spanish Foreign Minister.^10b

Lord Halifax expressed the decided opinion that a friendly message from this Government to General Weygand in accordance with the recommendation of Mr. Murphy would be highly desirable. He told me that he had conferred this morning, as a result of my conversation with him last night with Professor Hall and Mr. Eccles^10c and that Professor Hall had today sent to the Ministry of Economic Warfare in London a very urgent recommendation that the British Government immediately agree to a continuation of the North African trade arrangement with General Weygand.

The Ambassador told me likewise with some satisfaction that of his own initiative Sir Ronald Campbell, British Ambassador to Lisbon and former British Ambassador in Paris, had urgently telegraphed the British Foreign Office recommending earnestly that every possible attempt be made to give support to General Weygand in the way of food and needed supplies for the civilian population. Lord Halifax said he believed this latter message would carry considerable weight on account of Sir Ronald’s familiarity with the French situation.

S[umner] W[elles]

9. For latter, see vol. iii, p. 729.
10. See telegram No. 531, June 9, 7 p.m., from the Ambassador in Spain, p. 905.
11. Alexander W. Weddell.
12. Ramón Serrano Suñer.
13. Noel Hall of the British Embassy and David Eccles, representative from the British Ministry of Economic Warfare.