851.33/1291/7: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)59
1149. Your 1282, April 2, 6 p.m. For the Former Naval Person from the President. In the temporary absence of Ambassador Leahy from Vichy our Counselor of Embassy requested an urgent appointment with Marshal Pétain on Friday. The Marshal received him about noon and when he was told that Matthews wished to discuss the Dunkerque Marshal Pétain sent for Admiral Darlan.
When the situation, with which the Marshal was obviously not familiar, was explained Darlan, after remarking that this information of course came from the English and complaining that they wanted theirs to be the only fleet in the Mediterranean, admitted that he was bringing the Dunkerque to Toulon because he could not “have it repaired at Oran.” Darlan then referred to the fact that the Marshal and he had pledged their word of honor that French vessels would not fall into German hands and repeated these assurances. He was emphatic in stating that he could not leave the Dunkerque at Oran where it would deteriorate. Darlan denied that the Dunkerque was going to be moved right away. He said it would not be ready for 10 or more days. Darlan then made a series of anti-British statements.
At the conclusion of the conversation the Marshal asked Matthews to give him a memorandum of the matter in writing. He said that he would reply likewise in writing. Apparently the Marshal grasps the written word better than he trusts his memory and may, upon closer study of the matter, give the commitment asked by us. Matthews [Page 144] believes that in any event the Dunkerque will not be moved for at least 10 days.
The proposal to bring the Dunkerque to Toulon is not a new one and was reported in January by our Naval Attaché who says that if the ship is brought to Toulon now it could not in his judgment be put in service before the end of August. [Roosevelt.]
- This telegram summarizes contents of telegram No. 391, April 4, 2 p.m., from the Ambassador in France, not printed.↩