851.01/572: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Tuck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:06 p.m.]
1025. Embassy’s 1014, July 11, 8 p.m. During my talk with Laval this afternoon I soon had reason to learn that it was not his intention to allow our Government’s recent announcement regarding the [Page 536] French National Committee to go unnoticed. In this connection he handed me a note dated July 13 of which the following is a close translation:
“The Department of State announced on July 10 that a memorandum had been sent by the American Government to an organization known as the ‘French National Committee’. It also announced that the American Government had designated two military representatives charged with consulting this committee on all matters relating to the conduct of the war.
On the one hand the American Government maintains with the French Government official relations. On the other hand the American Government favors and encourages elements which are in rebellion against the French Government.
The American Government goes even further. By confirming that the defense of French territories under the control of Free French forces is of vital importance for the defense of the United States it questions the right of the French Government to reestablish the order and authority of France in French territories.
The French Government protests formally against the attitude of the American Government and its interference in questions which affecting as they do the sovereign right of France belong exclusively to the judgment and decisions of the French Government.
The French Government raises the same protest against the help given by the American Government to a group of rebels to their country. It considers that such an attitude on the part of the American Government towards it in no way corresponds to the desire so often expressed in Washington to maintain normal relations with the French Government.”
In handing me this note Laval stated that this was a delicate matter and referred to the “political recognition” which our Government appeared to be giving to the French National Committee. I replied that this was not correct and that the Secretary’s statement to the press (Radio Bulletin 161, July 9, 1942) had made very clear the nature of the assistance which our Government was seeking to give the Committee.
Repeated to London.