740.0011 P.W./931: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 9—3:52 p.m.]
1514. At 4 p.m. today I delivered in person to the Foreign Office by note the information transmitted in your circular cable of December 8.64 In the absence of Minister of Foreign Affairs Darlan, the note was received by M. Romier, Secretary of State, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, who gave oral assurance that the French Government would maintain an attitude of strict neutrality and expressed his personal regret that the United States has had the ill-fortune to become involved in war.
An effort to obtain a conference with Marshal Pétain has resulted in an appointment to see him on December 11 which will probably be subsequent to the return of Darlan.65
- Not printed.↩
- In telegram No. 1524, December 12, 8 p.m., Ambassador Leahy reported to the Department a reply dated December 11 from the French Foreign Office stating that it was “the decision of the French Government to maintain in the course of this conflict an attitude of neutrality.” (740.0011 P. W./987)↩