851A.01/27: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 30—2:30 p.m.]
1628. We called on Rochat this afternoon and conveyed to him the substance of the Department’s telegram No. 972, December 27, 6 p.m.,33 concerning the restoration of the status quo in St. Pierre-Miquelon.
Rochat said that while he appreciated the steps which Washington had taken with a view to restoring the legitimate regime in St. Pierre-Miquelon, the French Government is obliged to take the position that the status quo ante must be restored and that subsequently the conditions [Page 562] in the Department’s telegram under reference would be examined in a most friendly and sympathetic manner. He said that he felt sure that a satisfactory formula could be worked out in connection with the use of the radio there and also in connection with an American observer but that the French Government could not comply with our request to withdraw the Governor of the island. He indicated, however, that it was possible that at some future time a replacement would be named.
He said that a telegram was sent to Henry-Haye at noon today conveying to him the position of the French Government as he had just outlined it to us.