851.30/178: Telegram

The Chargé in France ( Tuck ) to the Secretary of State

956. Acting on my own initiative I called on Admiral Auphan,10 Minister of Marine, this morning. I said what [that?] the news regarding Rommel’s11 advance in Egypt appeared to be increasingly serious and that the latest reports indicated that the spearhead of the Afrika Korps had reached El Daba which is very near to Alexandria. I said that were Rommel to succeed in occupying the Nile Valley and Alexandria the situation with regard to the French Naval squadron in that port would become an extremely delicate one. I asked him whether he would give me the benefit of his reaction to the situation.

Admiral Auphan replied that the position of the French Fleet in Alexandria was indeed so critical that it was giving his Government the most serious preoccupation. He had only one hope and that was [Page 211] to save these vessels for the French Fleet and he greatly feared that the British might resort “to another Mers-el-Kebir”.12 I asked him whether thought had been given to the possibility of sending these vessels through the Suez Canal into the Indian Ocean. He replied that this would be impossible as it would convey to the Germans “an appearance of dissidence.” He reminded me that there had been great difficulty with the Germans in the past in connection with the presence of these ships in Alexandria as the terms of the Armistice acquired [required] that French naval vessels should remain in French ports. Any attempt to send them to safety through the Red Sea would certainly be interpreted by the Germans as a move towards dissidence and would create serious difficulties for the French Government. I said that I hoped he would understand that my visit was of an unofficial character and that I had not come on behalf of my Government. I thought, however, that it would be of interest to the Department of State to be informed of his views. He said that before he could authorize me to acquaint my Government of his reaction he felt it necessary to mention the matter to Laval.13 He would then let me know whether I was at liberty to inform my Government.

Laval sent for me this afternoon at 4 o’clock. I found Admiral Auphan and Rochat14 present. Laval said that Admiral Auphan had acquainted him of my visit and that while he understood perfectly that I had not been sent by my Government he was nevertheless glad of the opportunity to acquaint me of his Government’s official position in connection with the French Fleet at Alexandria. He then dictated to Rochat in my presence a statement of which the following is a careful translation:

“The French Government desires by all means possible to save the French squadron which is now at Alexandria.

If the British forces should have to evacuate Alexandria the French Government will not permit that our ships should be molested by these forces before their departure. In such an eventuality they would defend themselves by all the means at their disposal. Admiral Godefroy, commander of the squadron, has received order to refuse to follow the British in their retreat.

If a new attempt such as that of Mers-el-Kebir were to occur the consequences would be serious.

The French Government again reaffirms that all French warships can only remain French which is furthermore in conformity with [Page 212] the Armistice conventions. In present circumstances the French Government would like to see (envisagerait volontiers) its ships in a position to proceed freely to the nearest French port.[”]

Laval then told me the Germans had brought up this matter some time ago and that precisely the same answer had been given to them. He said that he preferred that no publicity should be given to my visit or to the above statement. He nevertheless welcomed the opportunity to acquaint the United States [with his?] Government’s stand with regard to the fleet in Alexandria and he hoped that it might be possible in the near future to receive an expression of our reaction.

Tuck
  1. Adm. Paul Auphan became French Secretary of State for Navy, April 18, 1942.
  2. Marshal Erwin Rommel, Commander of the German Afrika Korps.
  3. 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.
  4. Pierre Laval, French Chief of Government.
  5. Charles Antoine Rochat, Secretary General of the French Foreign Office.