851.01/379
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State (Berle)
M. Tixier25 came in to see me today by reference from Mr. Atherton.26
I said that in view of the fact that M. Tixier was now discussing not merely European questions but also African and Pacific questions [Page 504] as well, we had thought he might wish a broader field of contact than his previous talks with Eu.28 For this purpose, I hoped I could be of service. M. Tixier said he was glad of this.
I then said that we hoped certain matters could be more definitely channeled through him as means of communication. I referred especially to requests for visas for Free French officials who came and went in the United States.
I said that I had recently heard with great unhappiness that Admiral Muselier29 had applied for a visa and had been refused. On examination it developed that he had merely discussed coming to the United States with our Minister in Canada and had never applied for a visa. Had he applied, I was certain it would have been granted. Accordingly, to prevent further misunderstanding, I hoped that Free French officials desiring visas might present their requests through their representatives here. Our policy, I told him, was to give the most favorable consideration possible to all requests presented by the Free French Delegation in Washington.
M. Tixier said that he would be glad to act in that capacity. He had previously sent cables requesting that this be done; but unfortunately his committee had not seen fit to follow up and as a result, requests for visas were presented in all sorts of differing contacts.
I said that in future I thought we might properly suggest to our people that when requests for visas were presented, the applicant be requested to communicate with the Free French Delegation here, in which case we would give prompt and sympathetic consideration to any recommendation they might make.
M. Tixier on his own motion then brought up the problem of a French military mission. He said that he had never been informed that the Free French desired to have a military mission here. The first he knew about it was when a request for visas had been presented on behalf of Colonel de Chevigné as head of such a mission. This, he thought, was not the way to go at it and, in any event, he (Tixier) on learning of the matter, had urged that there be not a military mission but a couple of regular military attaches stationed here.
I said that I hoped M. Tixier would inform his people that we should be glad to receive a Free French military mission and would be glad to know the names of the men they wished to send. In the alternative, if they wished to send military attaches here, I saw no objection to that. Naturally, I did not undertake to enter into discussions as to whether it should be a military mission or a group of attachés.
[Page 505]M. Tixier said he understood that perfectly.
I said I understood the situation to be that no request was now made because the question as to whether there should be a mission or group of attachés was still unsettled between the Free French Delegation and the French National Committee; we would await word from them and would be glad to arrange for appropriate visas on learning their wishes in the matter.
M. Tixier then brought up the request which had been made from London that the United States issue a declaration of intention in respect of the French colonies in the Pacific, particularly Nouméa and Tahiti. He said that Admiral de Coux30 had been broadcasting, saying that the United States recognized the neutrality of France and recognized Admiral de Coux as the authority in the Pacific. He himself knew that this was quite untrue but that the Governor of Nouméa feared lest these broadcasts might be undermining his authority.
I referred to the message which we had sent to him for transmission to General de Gaulle in our letter of January 22, 194231 (this being the statement suggested by the United States General Staff). I said that I had no reason to believe that that message had ever reached Nouméa.
M. Tixier said that he had sent the message and that he had received a note from his government saying that it had been forwarded but that he was by no means sure it had been received. He asked if we could not send the message to our consul there, under his name, for transmission to the Governor.
I said I would consult my associates but I saw no reason why we should not do this.
M. Tixier observed that a public statement would, of course, be far more to the point and he hoped we could do this.
I said that speaking frankly and confidentially, I hoped he would put this request on one side, and bring it up in another couple of weeks or so. I hoped meanwhile that he might use his influence to see that none of the work going forward in Nouméa should be interrupted.
I said it was perfectly plain that the allegations made by Admiral de Coux were contrary to every statement of policy and every act of ours. He had turned over ships and rice to the Japanese; had adopted declarations and generally behaved himself in a manner which was anything but neutral.
I did not, however, think that this time the best interests of all would be served by a public declaration and therefore suggested that [Page 506] he bring this up somewhat later when perhaps conditions might be more favorable.
M. Tixier seemed to understand the situation and agreed.
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- Adrien Tixier, Head of the Free French Delegation in Washington. For M. Tixier’s report of his interview with Secretary of State Hull on January 19, 1942, see Charles de Gaulle, War Memoirs, vol. i: The Call to Honour, 1940–1942, Documents, p. 263.↩
- Ray Atherton, Acting Chief of the Division of European Affairs.↩
- Division of European Affairs.↩
- Adm. Emile Muselier, Free French National Commissioner for Navy.↩
- Adm. Jean Decoux, Vichy High Commissioner for French possessions in the Pacific.↩
- Not printed; it stated that measures were being initiated for the defense of New Caledonia (811.34551L/5).↩