862.33/225a: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Leahy)

124. Please call immediately upon Admiral Darlan62 and inform him, by direction of the President, that this Government is advised that a German submarine this morning entered the port of Fort-de-France in the Island of Martinique for the hospitalization of an officer and has there obtained facilities which will assist it to continue its operations against the shipping of the United States and of other nations associated with the United States.

The United States Government cannot permit any of the French possessions of the Western Hemisphere to be used as a base for Axis operations. The utilization of French islands and territories in the Western Hemisphere for this purpose would be an immediate and direct blow at the vital national interests of the United States and at the security of the Western Hemisphere.

Unless the Government of the United States immediately receives categorical assurances from the French Government that under no circumstances or conditions will the French authorities again permit Axis vessels or airplanes to enter French ports or territory within the Western Hemisphere, and unless such assurances, if given, are rigidly maintained, the Government of the United States will take such action in the interest of its own defense and in the interest of the security of the Western Hemisphere as may, in its own judgment, be necessary, and as may be in accordance with its existing inter-American obligations.

Welles
  1. Adm. Jean Francois Darlan, Vice President of the French Council of Ministers and Commander in Chief of Land, Sea, and Air Forces.