851.30/185: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Tuck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:48 p.m.]
986. Laval sent for me this afternoon at 5 o’clock and in the presence of Rochat delivered to me a note which he requested that I transmit to my Government.
The following is a close translation of this communication:
“The French Government had been apprised of the American aide-mémoire of July 3 concerning the French naval squadron at Alexandria.
The proposals submitted were so inacceptable that it was justified in thinking as was stated to the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States on July 3 that the Federal Government must have drawn up this document before learning of the decision taken by the German and Italian Governments to abide by the provisions of the Armistice Convention and not to put forward any claim with regard to the [Page 217] French Fleet at Alexandria. This decision has been made known to the Federal Government of [on] July 2.
In an oral declaration the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States informed the French Government on July 5 that the Federal Government maintained its note in the terms in which it had been presented.
After this confirmation the French Government is in a position to appreciate the full extent of the claims of the Federal Government. It rejects them formally as being contrary to the honor and interests of France. The Federal Government is aware that the French Government has the legitimate preoccupation not only of maintaining the French flag on the vessels of its squadron at Alexandria, all vessels of its navy, but also of insuring itself its safety. The Federal Government also knows that contrary to the allegations so often spread in America the French Government has never delivered nor attempted to deliver any one of its warships to foreign powers.
The Federal Government which was informed of the decision taken by the German and Italian Governments in application of the Armistice Conventions cannot contend that our ships at Alexandria are in danger of ‘falling into the hands of German or Italian military or naval forces’. The correction [correctness?] as well as the precision of the German and Italian replies should not permit the Federal Government to adopt such an attitude which is in your estimate vis-à-vis the French Government.
If the Federal Government is as it claims desirous of safeguarding the interests of the French Navy it would not have refused but on the contrary would have facilitated the departure of our vessels from Alexandria towards a French port. The Federal Government in asking that our warships be directed toward a ‘secure’ American port of asylum advances a claim that is clearly incompatible with French obligations under the Armistice Conventions.
The Federal Government on the other hand in formulating such a demand casts a slur on the dignity of France. The French Government cannot allow its word to be doubted at a time when it renews its resolution to maintain all its war vessels under the French flag. The Federal Government fails to appreciate the traditions of honor of the French Navy which alone intends to ensure the safeguard of the vessels which the nation has entrusted to its care.
The French Government takes note that the American Government declares as justifiable the destruction of French vessels at Alexandria, [if?] we refuse to obey the orders of the British forces.
The French Government wishes once again to stress the extreme gravity of the consequence which might result from any act of violence occurring at Alexandria against the French naval forces.
The French Government notes with regret that President Roosevelt does not hesitate to associate himself in advance with the heavy responsibilities of those who in contempt of military honor contemplate a criminal action against a disarmed squadron.
Another outrage, following that of Mers-el-Kebir, should on the contrary weigh heavily on the conscience of the American people.
France has a right to be respected.”
For the sake of accuracy I wish to point out that when I delivered the gist of the Department’s 413 of July 4, 3 p.m., to Lagarde (Embassy’s 973, July 5, 4 p.m.18) I gave him an exact verbal translation of its second paragraph. I did not say that “the Federal Government maintained its note in the terms in which it had been presented”.
- Not printed.↩