851A.01/87b
Draft of a Letter From President Roosevelt to the French Chief of State (Pétain)10
My Dear Marshal Pétain: At this approaching moment of the new year I am taking advantage of the departure of a courier to send you a message of greeting and also to express by note my gratification for the recent assurances from you which Admiral Leahy has transmitted to me.
Now that this country is actively engaged in the struggle imposed upon it by the Powers of aggression your reaffirmations that no use will be made of the French Fleet for hostile operations in support of Germany and that no utilization of French territory or bases by the Axis Powers will be permitted can only serve to reenforce the traditions which have long linked our peoples.
In the critical days ahead it is the continued hope of this country that French territory shall remain intact and that at the close of the present war to the victorious conclusion of which the Government and the people of the United States have dedicated their every effort France will resume that glorious place which it has held among the enlightened nations of the world. I have not failed to make known to you that the Government of the United States is fully cognizant of [Page 206] the severe limitations imposed upon the French Government and people by the terms of the Armistice Convention and that within these limitations there is every reason to believe that France can preserve French soil everywhere for the French people.
You will readily understand how essential it is to the vital interests of the United States that France shall continue to exercise jurisdiction free from foreign domination over its own territories and possessions. I again repeat that as long as French sovereign control remains in reality purely French, subject solely to the limitations of the Armistice Agreement, the Government of the United States has no desire to see existing French sovereignty over French North Africa or over any of French colonies pass to the control of any other nation.
I am confident that during the New Year which lies ahead of us you will defend the honor and integrity of the French people and nation upon which their future so clearly depends.
In conclusion, may I express to you my most cordial wishes for your continued good health.
Very sincerely yours,
- Notation in the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library at Hyde Park indicates letter was given to H. Freeman Matthews, Counselor of Embassy in the United Kingdom, to take to Lisbon on December 28 for forwarding to Marshal Pétain.↩