Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, Europe, Volume II

851.30/180: Telegram

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

Vichy, July 2, 1942—7 p.m.
[Received July 3—2:37 a.m.]

962. Laval sent for me this afternoon at 4 o’clock. On my arrival I found Admiral Auphan, Minister of Marine, and Rochat present. Laval presented me with what he described as an aide-mémoire, the contents of which he requested me to bring urgently to the attention of my Government. The following is a careful translation of this communication:

“The evolution of the military situation created by the rapid advance of Rommel’s army had naturally drawn the attention of the French Government to the fate of our squadron which lies at Alexandria.

On June 26 Admiral Auphan addressed to Admiral Godefroy a telegram of instructions. In case the British were to evacuate Alexandria the latter (Godefroy) should attempt to reach a French port. If that were to prove impossible, he was to remain on at Alexandria under the French flag and refuse to follow the British in their retreat. He was reminded that our ships were not to fall into foreign hands.

This telegram of instructions was on the following day—June 27—communicated to the Armistice Commissions at Wiesbaden and at Turin.

The French Government received today July 2 the two following communications from Wiesbaden and from Turin:

(1) ‘The Supreme German Command recognizes that the instructions given to the French Maritime forces at Alexandria are in conformity with the Armistice Convention.¹⁷ The Supreme German Command gives at the same time the assurance that it intends to act in conformity with article 8 of this Convention with regard to all French naval vessels which might be found in Alexandria as a result of having explicitly carried out the instructions given by the French Admiralty.

(2) The Italian Government has decided to adhere purely and simply to the Armistice Convention^17a and advances no pretension as regards the French Naval vessels no matter under what conditions they may be found in Alexandria.’

The Chief of the French Government considers it his duty to call these facts to the attention of the Federal Government. He requests [it?] to take cognizance of this communication which is a sequel to the communication which the Federal Government received yesterday from the French Government.

Any act of violence on the part of the British in view of these above indications might result in consequences the extreme gravity of which could not be overlooked by the Federal Government.”

In handing me this communication Laval said that he considered it his duty to keep our Government informed frankly and openly as regards the stand which the French Government intended to adopt in connection with its naval squadron at Alexandria. He assumed that the Department of State would communicate this information to the British Government.

Tuck

17. For text, see Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918–1945, series D, vol. ix (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1949), p. 671.
18. For text in English translation, see New York Times, June 26, 1940, p. 5, or Documents on American Foreign Relations, July 1939–June 1940, vol. ii, p. 436.