851A.01/29
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The French Ambassador called at his request.
He said he came in to give me the reply of his Government in regard to a settlement of the St. Pierre-Miquelon matter arising from the recent seizure by force of these islands by the Free French. He proceeded to translate the note40 which seemed to refer a number of times to the question of sovereignty, a matter apparently of primary concern to the Vichy Government. He then made some reference [Page 566] to a communiqué that the Vichy Government had put out today further dwelling on the question of its sovereignty. At this stage I interrupted his reading and said that I did not see how it was worthwhile for him to read any further on the question of sovereignty, since it was apparent that nothing could be gained by making that the central point and consuming time until the whole situation gets quickly out of hand—something the Ambassador must see and recognize.
The Ambassador then said that his Government was expecting Admiral Robert to handle the settlement of this matter. I replied that the Ambassador must realize that while this is an exceedingly small matter on the surface, in the present critical war situation, it is a highly explosive question which calls for immediate settlement. I added that it was with this in mind that I had asked the Ambassador to come in on December 27 and had suggested that this question could and should be settled amicably and in a spirit of cooperation on the part of all concerned, that announcement would be made accordingly, and that the occupants who seized the property could be requested by some appropriate government to withdraw, thereby restoring the status quo as it was before the seizure by force. This action would thus clear up the matter in a mutually satisfactory way. I said that if this step were not taken promptly, reckless people and publicity seekers will inflame the public everywhere and make the matter of greater difficulty and injury to all governments concerned.
The Ambassador sought to repeat that his Government expects Admiral Robert to make a suitable settlement and that it was merely reiterating its position as regards its sovereignty and making that public. I replied that the foregoing, as well as his remarks to the press correspondents when he left my office after his last call, was quoted in the press. I then added that if Great Britain and Canada should reply that their lives were at stake in a world war and that no European country having sovereignty over territory in the Western Hemisphere could be permitted to operate a wireless station with possibilities of signaling the enemy on the ocean, screening the whole matter with a statement about sovereignty, such a theory will not stand up for a moment; similarly if they replied that no device can be operated within the limits of such territorial boundary in a way to inflict possible major injuries even on the nearby high seas, such action cannot be supported by any theory of law, reason or practice. I then said that if the French Government cannot proceed straight to the point, as my original suggestion outlined for a settlement on a friendly basis, it would be most unfortunate for all of the governments involved; that Admiral Robert really needs no time to [Page 567] consider a matter of agreeing to a plan to safeguard this wireless station against possible injury to the merchant fleets passing up and down the Atlantic coast; and that this is a matter that calls for quick action, if it is not to get out of hand.
The Ambassador then began to talk loudly about French sovereignty and that France was a great country and must be treated accordingly. I interrupted him to say that when I am being subjected to every sort of abuse even in this country in an effort to safeguard the whole situation by friendly and amicable settlement, just and fair to all, the only thing I received by way of a reply was a stump speech from the Ambassador about the greatness of the French nation and that soon it will be too late to handle this matter on its merits and in a proper spirit because of its explosive possibilities.
I then said that I could not hope to retain much influence with the British and the Canadians if the entire matter is to be approached in this tone and manner by the French Government, particularly as the British and Canadians are fighting for their very lives and will not be interrupted or interfered with by such questions and conditions.
The Ambassador inquired why I had not worked out this proposed agreement about the wireless station with Admiral Robert, who is the High Commissioner of all of the French islands on the Atlantic Coast. I replied that the failure to do so thus far is not the question and it does not affect the merits of the matter. I might say that I was hopelessly engrossed with the Japanese and other emergency problems during past weeks and when Admiral Horn41 went to Martinique recently to discuss the continuance of the pending status quo, this special matter was not given him in his instructions. The Ambassador indicated the belief of himself and his associates that there was no danger to shipping from the operation of the wireless. I replied that everyone must agree that there were possibilities of danger and it does not suffice for the Ambassador and his associates to feel satisfied that there is no danger, especially when Great Britain, Canada and the United States know that, from the recognized possibilities of danger, injury and destruction could result. In other words, they are not satisfied as to the absolute safety of their shipping. I reemphasized that the purpose was a friendly arrangement to satisfy everybody without injury to anybody. I said that I had already indicated to the Ambassador that there was bitter feeling toward the Governor of these islands and yet his Government has seen fit to confer a Cross of Honor on him just at the moment when we are attempting a friendly settlement. The Ambassador smiled and said nothing.
The Ambassador said he would take up the matter further with his Government and report back to me as quickly as possible. I reminded [Page 568] him of my strong objection to every act and utterance of Japan which were in violation of the sovereignty and all other valuable rights and privileges in Indochina, and concluded by saying that I had sought to be entirely fair with the Government of Vichy under very trying circumstances and much criticism and that if his Government appreciates this situation at all, as it should appreciate it, it will come forward at once and offer a fair and reasonable and friendly adjustment such as we have been discussing.