851B.00/60
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State (Berle)
M. Tixier93 came in to see me, at his request. He presented a note94 regarding the Martinique observations, of which a copy has gone forward to EU.95 In general, the note insists on two points: a protest that they were not associated with the United States in our negotiations with Admiral Robert, whom they considered a traitor; second, a demand that they be offered the government of Martinique.
As a preface to the negotiations, M. Tixier said that he had been instructed by General de Gaulle96 to say that de Gaulle was convinced of the friendliness of the United States and that there was nothing offensive to him in the method adopted by the negotiations. On the other hand, he felt that he, as head of the French resistance, should be recognized in the proceedings, and note should be taken of their view that French territory was not neutral, but was actively at war with the Germans.
I said I took note of all this. I could merely repeat what I had told M. Tixier before. The negotiations at Martinique were proceeding on a purely military line and had to do with the elimination of the military threat to our lines. The question of the government of the islands had not arisen and it was therefore unnecessary to discuss it at this point.