Evening star., 1942-05-17
Text of Martinique Notes
Laval Criticizes U. S. for Mixing In
In Reply Rejecting Demands

the Government of the United
States is ready to treat with the
High Commissioner of the Antilles
and French Guinana as supreme
authority of these possessions for
France and under the French flag,
but acting independently of Vichy.
These conditions are the follow
ing:
l. Effect measures under Amer
ican supervision for inmobilization
of French warships and airplanes
now in the Antilles.
2. Effective control by American
authorities of radio and telegraphic
traffic and postal censorship.
3. American supervision of COM
merce, of emigration and Of travel
ers entering and leaving the An
titles
4. Limiting of police activities of
French army and naval forces.
5. Turning over to the United
States under fair conditions of
French merchant ships at present
immobilized in the Antilles.
6. Gold and other funds now in
the French possession to be frozen
and kept for eventual use of the
French people.
Four Points Of Acceptance.
For their part the United States
is ready to accept:
/. Leave French crews on board
the Warships. These ships to remain
under the French flag and remain
French property. The United States
will take necessary measures to re-
turn to France army, naval and
civilian personnel which desire tc
be repatriated.
2. Recognition of Admiral Robert
as supreme government commander
Of the French possessions of the
Spanish Main, acting for France
French cot md civilian authori-
ties to continue.
3. Conclusion Of an economic ac-
cord to assure these colonies neces-
sary supplies, this accord including
exchanges between the French pos
sessions and neighboring territories
4. To buy the principal export
products of the French possessions
and in this way to aid in the main
tenance of the economic life of these
possessions.
1t is necessary that clear re-
sponse be given the first of these
conditions, that is, the question of
the demobilization of warships and
planes. Quick response would
equally be appreciated for the other
propositions which can be made the
object of further discussions.
Only the High Commissioner has
authority to conclude peaceful
accord safeguarding the interests
of France and maintaining these
French possessions for the French
people.
If the High Commissioner is of
the opinion that he no longer has
control over the possessions, the
statute may be altered in which
case the United States no longer
is in a position to guarantee to the
French people these possessions.
Text of Response.
The tert OF the French re-
SponSe, dated May IS, as made
public By LaUnl'
/. In October, 1910, while the
United States still was not at war
an agreement was reached between
the French government and the
Federal Government to settle re-
cent events, particularly the status
of our possessions in America (St.
Pierre ct Miquelon, the Antilles and
Guiana.
2. American Admiral Hoover, ac-
companied by Monsieur Reber of
the State Department, presented
Admiral Robert, French High Com
missioner of the Antilles, demands
tending to deeply modify this status.
3. These demands struck the
gravest blow at French sovereignty
over the Antilles and Admiral Hoov-
er declares that if not accepted.
the American government no longer
can guarantee this sovereignty.
4. The status in force since 1910
met essential interests of the two
countries. 1t was reaffirmed last
March by the two governments.
5. The French government al