Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, Europe, Volume II

740.0011 Pacific War/1830: Telegram

The Consul at Nouméa (MacVitty) to the Secretary of State

Nouméa, February 5, 1942—5 p.m.
[Received February 5—2:12 p.m.]

17. The Australian Intelligence officer here today, informed me that a radio message from the Japanese Commissioner at Hanoi to Tokyo intercepted by his service reads:

“Admiral Decoux⁵⁴ has agreed to cooperate with the Japanese in taking possession of all French territory in the Pacific with the understanding that French sovereignty will be preserved.[”]

In this connection d’Argenlieu⁵⁵ recently gave me to understand that he believed the State Department had come to some agreement with Vichy whereby no protection would be given by the United States to French possessions in the Pacific. He inferred that this belief was also shared by General de Gaulle.⁵⁶

MacVitty

54. Adm. Jean Decoux, Governor General of Indochina and High Commissioner for French Possessions in the Pacific.
55. Thierry d’Argenlieu, Free French High Commissioner for the Pacific.
56. Gen. Charles de Gaulle, President of the National Committee of the Free French at London.