851A.01/33
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Hickerson)
Mr. Moffat called on long distance telephone at three o’clock this afternoon and referred to recent telephone conversations with Mr. Atherton and me in regard to Mr. Moffat’s talk with Admiral Muselier, of the Free French movement, who is now in Ottawa. Mr. Moffat said that he had talked with Admiral Muselier again today, basing his remarks on the instructions which Mr. Atherton gave him over the telephone yesterday.
As regards our decision in respect to St. Pierre and Miquelon, Admiral Muselier said that he accepts this decision with regret and reluctance and that he will take no action. The Admiral believes we are making a mistake and that action by Canada may create a bad precedent which will be seized upon by Darlan. However, that decision has been made and Admiral Muselier accepts it.
As regards our view about the inadvisability of the Free French moving in on other French territorial possessions in this Hemisphere, Mr. Moffat said that Admiral Muselier made no comment.
Mr. Moffat said that Admiral Muselier talked at great length, however, on the question of the French vessels which have been taken into protective custody by the United States. This matter was raised with the Admiral in his talk with Mr. Moffat on December 15 and is discussed in the memorandum of conversation of that date between Mr. Moffat and Mr. Hickerson.14 Mr. Moffat said that Admiral Muselier had apparently been keenly desirous of using the ships as an excuse for coming to the United States and that the Admiral received with obvious disappointment the word that we did not think it would be a good idea for him to visit this country at this time. Admiral Muselier thereupon said that he considered it most important that two French officers attached to his staff visit the United States at once to confer with Free French leaders in New York and perhaps Washington and to be in a position to give advice concerning the experience in other allied countries in regard to French ships. The Admiral has therefore applied for visas for these two French officers to visit the United States. They are: Capt. de Frigate Heron [Page 550] d’Illevosse (who is traveling on a British certificate of identity); Capt. de Corvette Maurice Quedrue (who is believed to have a French passport); this officer is in Montreal and is coming to Ottawa tonight; his papers will be in the Legation tomorrow.
Mr. Moffat recommends that he be given authority by telephone as soon as possible to issue these visas. Mr. Moffat feels that since we have said “no” to everything else that Admiral Muselier has proposed, and since these visits would seem to be quite harmless at the worst and of some little value at best, the visas ought to be granted.
- The portion of the memorandum relating to the question of French vessels is not printed.↩