851.33/211: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Leahy)
928. Your 1531, December 12, 11 p.m. Please communicate immediately a paraphrase of the following message from the President to Marshal Pétain:
“I have received with the greatest gratification the texts of the three memoranda which you transmitted to Ambassador Leahy in reply to the inquiry which he had made in my name.
The receipt of these positive assurances from you with regard to matters of vital concern to the defense of the United States has given me profound satisfaction.
You may rest assured that the Government of the United States under present circumstances and in view of the instructions which you have issued to Admiral Robert52 will continue to give full recognition to the agreement reached by our two governments involving the maintenance of the status quo of the French possessions in the Western Hemisphere.
You will realize the practical difficulties presented by the changed situation in relation to the program of supply for North Africa. You may rest assured, however, that every possible step will be taken in order to make it possible for this Government to assist in the alleviation of conditions in French North and West Africa.
I am indeed hopeful that the traditional relations of close and understanding friendship between our two peoples may be maintained intact.”
Please telegraph at once any reply that may be made to this message.
- Adm. Georges Robert, Governor of the French West Indies and Supreme Commander of the French Islands in the Western Hemisphere.↩