851.48/127: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Leahy)
46. Your 39, January 11, 4 p.m., and 44, January 13, 1 p.m. The Department is giving very careful study to the position of the French Government as outlined in your telegrams under reference and to your recommendations and suggestions as well as to the French memorandum.
While fully aware of the importance of strengthening the Marshal’s hand at this critical juncture and of avoiding any action which might tend to weaken the resistance of the Vichy Government to the pressure and threats to its independence now being exercised on that Government by Germany, there are nevertheless certain considerations which necessarily affect and control the policy of this Government.
- (1)
- In seeking the permission of the British Government for the passage of the Red Cross relief shipments through the British Contraband Control, a definite assurance that it is logical and expedient to make a distinction between occupied and unoccupied territories was given to the British Government, to whom it was explained that this Government had not the slightest intention of undertaking any policy that would weaken or militate against the efficacy of the British blockade.
- (2)
- As I have stated in regard to the Hoover15 proposal to feed certain of the occupied territories, many people in this country are inquiring “as to the reasons why such a proposal and the agitation in favor of it are so tender to the Germans, who have deliberately taken food from these areas, and at the same time beat the British over the head when at least 90 percent of their battle is ours.” This Government considers that it is, in the first instance, Germany’s responsibility to feed those in territories now occupied by German forces and it is difficult to see how any scheme can be devised for others to feed them without aiding Germany directly and indirectly.
- (3)
- This Government is already giving favorable consideration to credit facilities for trade to North Africa and likewise to French colonial possessions but must consider that the matter of the passage of supplies for France through the British blockade remains a question to be resolved directly between the British and French Governments. In view of the sentiment in this country and its declared policy of aid to Great Britain, this Government cannot undertake to do more than offer to facilitate direct exchanges of views between the two Governments directly interested.
Within the limits of this policy the Department will follow with close interest the discussions at Madrid, referred to in the French memorandum, and will be glad to have all possible information regarding them.
Please repeat your 44, to Madrid for the confidential information of the Ambassador.
- Herbert Hoover, former President of the United States, head of the European Food Distribution Commission.↩