851.00/2702: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 30—11:14 a.m.]
466. At 11:30 today I delivered to Marshal Pétain in the presence of Admiral Darlan the statement contained in your 214, March 27, 4 p.m.
The Marshal replied that he does not enjoy having to make decisions that are personally disagreeable to him, that the French people do not like Laval, and that he is not hurrying toward a decision.
Darlan who did not join in the conversation remarked privately that a decision might probably be made within a week and that in his opinion there is only a 20% prospect of Laval’s return to the Cabinet.
I expressed to the Marshal my personal opinion that an appointment of Laval to the Cabinet would probably cause a break in our diplomatic relations. Upon my departure he expressed a hope that I have not started to pack my trunks.