851.33/1291/7: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Leahy)
290. This Government has learned from a source which it cannot question that the Vichy Government has received “permission” from the Wiesbaden Armistice Commission to transfer the battleship Dunkerque under escort from Oran to Toulon allegedly “for disarmament”. [Page 141] This Government is further informed that the transfer is to commence on April 4.
It is urgently important that you see Marshal Pétain personally immediately and convey to him in the name of your Government the following views:
The Government of the United States has already made it more than clear to Marshal Pétain that it desired to do what it could to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population in unoccupied France and to cooperate with the French Government in this regard, provided that arrangements could be made which would prevent such aid from being of assistance, direct or indirect, to the German or the Italian Governments. This Government during recent weeks has in many practical ways made this policy on its part evident to the French Government.
It has made clear through you to Marshal Pétain its earnest hope, in the interest of the maintenance of French sovereignty, that the French Government would undertake no action which could possibly be of assistance to Germany over and above the bare limit of the obligations assumed by France under the terms of the armistice, and in that connection, and for that reason, it has likewise expressed its hope that the French Government would gradually transfer its naval units to Atlantic ports in North Africa from the Mediterranean.
You should then report to Marshal Pétain the information received by this Government concerning the transfer to Toulon of these important units of the French fleet as above set forth. You should state that such action on the part of the French Government under whatever pretext is not only completely counter to the hopes expressed by your Government as to the policy which the French Government would pursue, but is also unquestionably destined to be of great potential advantage to Germany.
In conclusion you should say that this Government has great personal confidence in Marshal Pétain and would accept, as it has in the past, without question the personal assurances conveyed to the United States Government by him. The Government of the United States cannot believe that the action which the French Government is contemplating involving the transfer of the French battleship and other naval units to Toulon can have been sanctioned by the Marshal. We feel that the Marshal would understand how such action would inevitably alienate public opinion in the United States. However, you should add that your Government finds it necessary in all frankness to state that if such action were taken, the Government of the United States could no longer consider the continuation of the policy which it has desired to pursue of affording in every practical manner relief to French needs in unoccupied France, or the many further acts of cooperation contemplated. A continuation of such policy could only be [Page 142] predicated upon clear evidence that the French Government, under the direction of Marshal Pétain, was determined to take no step which could conceivably be of assistance to Germany beyond, as stated above, the bare terms of the armistice agreement itself.
Please report immediately by telegram.