851.85/232
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Adviser on Political Relations (Dunn)
Mr. Jacques Dumaine, Counselor of the French Embassy, telephoned this morning to say that the French Ambassador asked him to remind us of a promise we had made to inform him in the event any measures were taken with a view to placing guards upon the French vessels in American ports, and to ask whether we would be good enough to send him a note setting forth the action we had taken with regard to these ships.70
I told Mr. Dumaine that I did not think the Ambassador should expect to receive any word from us with regard to the action we had taken with respect to the French ships, and I wished to point out that this Government had received no word whatever from the French Government with respect to the action it had taken vis-à-vis the German Government,71 directly contrary to the assurances which had been given to this Government by the French Government, and that, furthermore, this Government would take whatever measures it considered necessary for its own protection with respect to the new situation created by the attitude of the French Government.
Mr. Dumaine said that the French Embassy here had received no information whatever from Vichy with regard to the present developments, but that as soon as any information was received, they would take steps to communicate it immediately to the Department.