851B.20/58
The Chargé in France (Tuck) to the Secretary of
State
No. 968
Vichy, May 14,
1942.
[Received June 2.]
Sir: With reference to my telegram No. 711 of
May 13, 6 p.m.,88 I have
the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the note dated
[Page 631]
May 13, 1942, handed to me by M. Rochat of
the Foreign Office and the text of which was cabled to Admiral Robert in
Martinique for the information of Admiral Hoover.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure—Translation]89
The French Ministry for Foreign
Affairs to the American
Embassy
- 1.
- In October 1940, at a time when the United States was not at
war, an accord was concluded between the French Government and
the Federal Government [of the United States]90 to
determine in the light of events the particular status of our
possessions in America (St. Pierre-Miquelon, the West Indies,
and Guiana).
- 2.
- May 9, 1942, the American Admiral Hoover, accompanied by Mr.
Reber of the State Department, presented to Admiral Robert, High
Commissioner of France in the West Indies, demands tending to
modify greatly this status.
- 3.
- These demands gravely threatened French sovereignty over the
West Indies, and Admiral Hoover declared that if they were not
accepted the American Government would no longer guarantee that
sovereignty.
- 4.
- The status in effect since 1940 corresponded to the essential
interests of the two countries: it had been reaffirmed and
clarified last March by the two Governments.
- 5.
- The French Government has always respected its obligations,
and no change in the constitution of the new government can lead
it to modify this attitude.
- 6.
- Recent statements made to Admiral Leahy established the fact
that the chief of Government not only never envisaged
repudiating the engagements undertaken vis-à-vis the United
States but, that, on the contrary, he affirmed in the clearest
manner his wish to do nothing that could affect Franco-American
harmony.
- 7.
- The French Government protests this interference by the
American Government in French internal politics. By casting
doubt on official declarations made in the name of the French
Government the Department of State adopted an offensive attitude
toward our country, which intends to maintain the freedom of
choice of its government.
- 8.
- The Federal Government, in acting as it has, commits toward
the French people a grave psychological error arising no doubt
from
[Page 632]
the activities in
the United States by French émigrés, rebels against their
country, who are pursuing in foreign lands partisan struggles
from which France has already suffered so much.
- 9.
- The Federal Government has just transmitted propositions that,
if they were accepted, would have the effect of removing from
the French Government, sole repository of National sovereignty,
the exercise of its essential rights in colonies that have been
French territory for three centuries.
- 10.
- The Federal Government in refusing Admiral Robert, the High
Commissioner, the right to report on his administration to the
only French authorities to which he is responsible, and by
Virtue of which he holds power, formulated urgent demand that
the French Government is duty bound to reject.
- 11.
- The Federal Government, moreover, also demands the delivery of
merchant vessels at present immobilized in West Indian ports. It
cannot be unaware that such a surrender is formally prohibited
by the terms of the armistice. If the French submitted to the
American demand, it would violate the armistice convention, and
this hypothesis, by reason of the consequences it would entail,
cannot be envisaged by the French Government.
- 12.
- The Federal Government, in demanding the immobilization of
warships at present in West Indian waters, seems to fear the
utilization of that force against American interests. The
Federal Government cannot invoke any argument of a military
nature that would justify such pretensions.
- 13.
- The French Government, which has never failed its word,
reaffirms, in order to dissipate any equivocation in this
connection, its determination strictly to respect the
undertakings it has already made.
- 14
- The French Government reaffirms today, solemnly, that it will
never assume responsibility for an act that might compromise
relations with the American people. It can say this much: While
remaining faithful to the obligations arising from the armistice
convention, it preserves its independence and its liberty of
action.
- 15.
- The French Government is disposed to consider and to negotiate
through the medium of Admiral Robert, High Commissioner of
France, all proposals which may be made to it regarding French
sovereignty and neutrality, tending to settle the status of our
Western Hemisphere possessions and which would give complete
assurance to the Federal Government regarding the immobilization
of our ships of war and commerce with the definite understanding
that in no case would they be utilized by the United
States.
- 16.
- The Federal Government which is aware that France is in
distress and is doing all she can to assure her reconstruction
in line with her noble national traditions, would assume heavy
responsibility before history by breaking with unjustified
violence the bonds of friendship that have always united our two
peoples.
