740.00119 European War 1939/757: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:01 p.m.]
816. Our Naval Attaché has been informed by reliable naval sources that negotiations began yesterday in Beirut on French initiative for an armistice; that the only important condition the French are asking is that those of their military forces who desire to return to France or North Africa be permitted to do so.
We endeavored to obtain confirmation of this report this morning from Rochat. He replied, we have no reason to doubt his sincerity, that he has absolutely no knowledge of any such negotiations; that the last he had heard on the question was a telephone call from General Lacaille (Huntziger’s25 right-hand man) on Saturday afternoon as to whether any further word had been received from the British since the French “reply” to the British suggestion for the cessation of hostilities (Embassy’s telegram 776 June 30, 7 p.m.). He said that it was following this phone call that he had made inquiry of the Embassy (Embassy’s telegram No. 811 July 5, 1 p.m.). He remarked that Admiral Darlan had not informed him of any such negotiations, but admitted the possibility that they might nevertheless be in course without his (Rochat’s) knowledge.
Admiral Darlan is leaving for Paris this noon.
Repeated to Algiers.
- Gen. Charles Huntziger, French Minister for National Defense.↩