740.0011 European War 1939/21262: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 28—1:51 p.m.]
623. Laval accompanied by Rochat, called by appointment this afternoon at 6 o’clock.
Laval, in the course of a conversation lasting some 20 minutes, spoke with the utmost frankness both with regard to the interior and foreign policy which his Government intends to pursue and of his reaction to Franco-American relations.
He said that he did not wish to dwell upon the insulting references to himself by the American press and public opinion since his advent to power; he preferred to limit himself to asking whether such an attitude was justifiable. He had been accused by the American people of being Fascist and pro-Nazi. He maintained that he was neither and that he was only interested in one thing and that was the welfare of France. He felt that the United States had committed a serious error in entering the war and that in the event of a victory over Germany by Soviet Russia and England Bolshevism in Europe would inevitably follow. Under such circumstances he would prefer to see Germany win the war.
As regards Franco-American relations he repeated on two occasions that neither by word nor act would his Government make any unfriendly gesture to the United States. His feelings towards our country he said could perhaps best be illustrated by a statement he had made at the time of his visit to America in 193174 when he said that if he were 20 years of age and wished to become an expatriate he would like to start his life as a young man in America. He felt that the present war was a “Civil War” in the sense that it was a conflict between democratic and totalitarian ideals and that in such a conflict he was only concerned with the ultimate salvation of France. He was prepared to defend France and her Empire against all comers and he stated specifically that if the British or the Americans were to attempt to effect a landing either on the soil of metropolitan France or on French North African territory he would resist them to the best of his ability. His Government he maintained would take no step to provide military assistance to the Germans.
When I reminded him that only a few months ago it had become known that the French Government then in power had agreed to transport on French vessels supplies, trucks and munitions through French North Africa to Rommel’s forces in Libya he evaded a direct reply.
[Page 182]He was vehement in his attack on Great Britain, claiming that she is basically responsible for the plight in which France finds herself today and that it was Great Britain who had drawn France into the war. “You will never hear from my lips” he said “from now on a friendly reference to England.”
As regards Germany, he felt that an understanding could be reached which would result in a lasting peace in Europe and he believed that a German victory (or possibly a negotiated peace) is preferable to a British and Soviet victory. He said that the statement of policy which he had issued in May 1941 (which took the form of an exclusive interview granted to the U. P. correspondent Heinzen) stood today as it did then and that it represents accurately at this time his attitude toward Franco-German relations.
As regards his desire to defend the French Empire he said that if he possessed the means to do so he would attempt to reconquer those parts of the French Empire which de Gaulle is now occupying with British assistance.
On taking leave he again repeated that neither by word nor act would his Government make any unfriendly gesture towards the United States.
As a result of this very frank interview it is my opinion that Laval is fully committed and may be expected to go as far as practicable in an effort to collaborate with Germany and assist in defeating what he calls Bolshevism.
Repeated to London and Murphy.
- For correspondence regarding this visit, see Foreign Relations, 1931, vol. ii, pp. 237–258.↩