740.00115 European War 1939/5545: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the United Kingdom (Matthews)
104. My 6563, December 24, 10 p.m.17 On December 31 in Lord Halifax’ absence I called in Sir Ronald Campbell18 and told him that many of us in the Government were becoming seriously concerned about the development of what appeared to be British policy in relation to such matters as the Darlan case, particularly in the way it is exploited by the British press and radio and persons in the British Government associated with de Gaulle publicity. I said that this type of propaganda was aimed directly at stirring up bitterness against this Government, was distinctly harmful and was resented by many people in this country, who were much more interested in driving the Axis out of Africa than in hair pulling about French personal political rivalries. This Government had from the beginning devoted its whole mind, heart and effort to win the battle of Africa and it was disconcerting to hear nothing in this vast output of inspired British propaganda relating in any manner to the campaign being waged in Northwest Africa except this controversial and inflammable propaganda. I added that of course I spoke in a most friendly spirit but that I seriously feared that continuation of the policies or practices to which I had referred would inevitably create serious friction between our two countries. I referred to our efforts to protect the British Government from attacks in this country, particularly with respect to India although we were as much interested in freedom for India as for any other dependent people who are seeking it. While we are thus protecting the British Government here that Government has been creating a constantly stronger impression that it is closely associated with Fighting French propaganda which is continually attacking us. I concluded by expressing the hope that he would take up this matter very earnestly and promptly with his Government since further drifting along the recent line could not but have unfortunate results. He promised to take up the matter promptly.
That evening Mr. Berle19 also discussed this problem with Sir [Page 29] Ronald20 and expressed the view that the difference lay in a complete conflict in our interpretation of the basic facts as against that of the British. In that case it should be possible to get together and ascertain what the facts really were. If there were a conflict in policy that was another question. Sir Ronald agreed and said if there were a difference in policy the only possible safe course was to get at it, hammer out the question and reach an agreement.
- Not printed.↩
- British Minister.↩
- Adolf A. Berle, Jr., Assistant Secretary of State.↩
- See memorandum of conversation, December 31, 1942, Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. ii, p. 556.↩