851.33/285: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:03 p.m.]
309. I delivered orally to Admiral Darlan99 your message (your 125, February 23, 6 p.m.) in regard to the movement of the Dunkerque to Toulon in violation of the understanding of April 8, 1941.
Darlan replied with a statement that the agreement of April 8 was conditional upon the United States shipping necessary foodstuffs to unoccupied France and to North Africa and making arrangements with the British Navy not to interfere with legitimate French commercial shipping. The United States having failed to carry out its part of the agreement, he considered that it was not binding upon France.
He continued with a statement that the original Armistice proposal was to send the French Navy to occupied ports where it would have been available for seizure by Germany, that he succeeded by his personal efforts in getting permission to send the Navy to unoccupied ports where it would be available for the defense of the Empire and that British appreciation of his assistance was shown at Mers-el-Kebir.1
He stated that the Dunkerque is so badly damaged that its repairs at Toulon will require approximately 2 years, that it will therefore be unavailable for the duration of the war and that progressive deterioration if it had remained at Oran would have permanently destroyed the vessel.
I discussed also with Admiral Darlan the matter of the delivery of petroleum products from Tunisia to Libya and its effect on our North African economic accord (your 127, February 23, 8 p.m.2).
He replied that he has previously informed us that these petroleum products were taken from the French supply stored in Africa which were replaced by shipments from continental France which were replaced in France by shipments from Germany.
He said that a refusal by him to comply with this proposal by the Axis would have created serious difficulties for France and that its accomplishment did not have any effect on the local civilian need for shipments from America. He also said that further demands for the shipment of petroleum from Tunis will not be made by the Axis.
[Page 206]He stated that recent shipments of foodstuffs to the Axis forces in Libya originated in Italy and did not in any way deplete the supply available to the inhabitants of France.
He said in closing that even if the President may be desirous of becoming displeased with the Government of France he has no desire to have any misunderstanding with the United States. I replied that I am certain the President has made every practical effort to be of assistance to France.
- Adm. Jean François Darlan, Vice President of the French Council of Ministers, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Navy, and Defense.↩
- On July 3, 1940, a British fleet fired on French warships at Mers-el-Kebir near Oran, causing severe damage and casualties. See message from the President of the French Council of Ministers to President Roosevelt, July 4, 1940, Foreign Relations, 1940, vol. ii, p. 469, and following documents.↩
- Ante, p. 140.↩