856A.20/17: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:44 p.m.]
4174. Despite its preoccupation with the anti-Comintern meeting the German press this afternoon finds considerable front page space [Page 832] and prominence for comment on the sending of American troops to Dutch Guiana. This is variously described in lengthy news despatches and editorials as “Roosevelt’s military aggression against South America”, the seizure of an American spring board to Dakar, a prelude to the occupation of French Guiana, and a violation of the Atlantic Charter19 as well as of the Habana agreements with the other American Republics. The newspapers state that the “seizure” of the bauxite mine is only one of the numerous crimes committed by this single action and that in particular it is noteworthy as being the first major step along the road of aggressive imperialism which the United States has allegedly chosen to follow. It is suggested that the concurrent action of Brazil is ambiguous since the guards stationed by that country along its frontier with Dutch Guiana may well be intended to protect South America from further “Yankee penetration”. The newspapers also attempt to ridicule the position of the Dutch Government which they say proved its impotence as well as its naiveness in believing this colony would be restored to it after the war.
The semi-official Dienst aus Deutschland directs its attention mainly toward the effect of the action on French interests. It asserts that “it is obvious beyond all doubt that the occupation of Dutch Guiana is only a preliminary step to an action directly or indirectly against French Guiana” and that it must be viewed in the light of “the well-known Anglo-American intentions with regard to French West Africa”. The Dienst aus Deutschland then states: “The American action is also being followed in Vichy with the greatest attention though as yet with complete silence but no doubt is left that Vichy may be compelled in the very near future to make serious decisions.”
Repeated to Vichy.
- Joint statement by President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill on August 14, 1941; for text, see vol. i, p. 367.↩