851.30/182: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Tuck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:30 p.m.]
971. My 967 July 3, 6 p.m. I happened to meet Rochat late yesterday evening. He informed me that according to a telegram received [Page 216] yesterday afternoon from Admiral Godefroy at Alexandria, the British had made no demands of any kind in connection with the French squadron there. Rochat wished me to know this chiefly because of unsubstantiated reports which were afloat in Vichy yesterday to the effect that the British intended to scuttle the French Fleet in Alexandria.
Rochat added that after our conversation with Laval yesterday afternoon Admiral Auphan had expressed to him his conviction that if the French Government were to comply with the suggestion and offer of the United States Government he was certain that the German Government would demand the cession of an equal amount of tonnage of French war vessels now lying in French ports.