851D.001/43: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:17 p.m.]
2767. Department’s telegram No. 2395, April 15, 8 p.m. Strang states that he has failed in his efforts to get the Fighting French to send instructions recalling Bertaud to Africa. Massigli was anxious to cooperate, Strang says, but Pleven was adamant and Massigli failed just as he has equally failed in his endeavors to have de Gaulle’s newspaper, the Marseillaise, cease its bitterly anti-American tone. (There was some improvement for one issue but the most recent contains at least five articles critical of the United States and its policy.)
Strang states that he has referred the question of Bertaud’s return to Mr. Eden in view of the latter’s personal interest in French problems. We have reiterated the importance we attach to Bertaud’s early departure from Trinidad.