851A.01/67
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Samuel Reber of the Division of European Affairs
Mr. Tixier called at my request this afternoon. I explained that I had been instructed to inform him that there had been apparently certain misunderstandings with regard to the significance of the expression “three so-called Free French ships” used in the press communiqué of December 25.42
I referred to Mr. Atherton’s conversation with Mr. Tixier on December 29, when it was explained to him that when this Government was informed of the occupation of St. Pierre-Miquelon, it was slow to believe and hence to state that the ships were actually Free French ships in the absence of certainty that they were, and in view of the assurances which this Government had been given by Admiral Muselier. I went on to say that the phrase was used to avoid designation of the ships as those acting under the authority of the French National Committee and there was no intention to reflect upon the Free French movement in any way. I asked that Mr. Tixier be good enough to communicate this explanation to General de Gaulle.