Evening star., 1943-04-30
Martinique
Continued From First Paee>

would have followed the course of
their brother Frenchmen elsewhere
in joining the fight against the worst
oppressors France yet has seen.
But that hope, he concluded, un-
fortunately has not been realized.
Text of U. S. Note.
The text of the note. delivered to
Admiral Robert April 26:
"In November of last year, the
Government of the United States
informed the French high commits
sioner that it was prepared to main
tain its relations with the French
territories in the Western Hemis-
phere on an informal basis. 1t
pointed out, however, that in view
OF the imminent full German oc-
cupation of France, it regarded any
regime which the Germans might
permit to function in metropolitan
France as being under the COM
plete domination of Hitler. This
view was later confirmed by the
completion of the German occupa-
ton of all French metropolitan
territory and the final extinguish-
ment of French authority in France
The government of the United
States also made it abundantly
clear, in November and subse-
quently, that the new and changing
situation would require a current
denomination with the French
high commissioner of problems of
mutual interest and concern.
almost six months have passed
and today the French islands in the
Caribbean are the only French ter
ritories physically free from Axis
domination which have no part in
the struggle for French liberation
and which profess allegiance to
regime under the direct control of
Germany.
1T is matter of common knoWl-
edge that the territory of metro
polltan France, contrary to the wish
of the French people, is being used
IN an ever-increasing degree for &C
tive military operations against the
United States and that the Vichy
regime is now an integral part of
the Nazi system. The Government
OF the United States does not recog-
nize Vichy nor will it recognize or
negotiate with any French repre-
sentative in the Antilles who re-
mains SubSerVient to or maintains
contact with the Vichy regime.
Understanding Not Binding.
In the circumstances the Gov-
ernment of the United States does
not consider effective or binding
any informal understanding with
respect to the French Antilles
based upon past discussions and
conditions. nor does it consider that
those discussions can serve as a
basis for either present or future
relations with the French Antilles.
For this reason the American
consul general at Fort de France
is being instructed to return to the
United States. leaving the consulate
IN charge of consular officer whose
activities will be restricted to the
protection of American interests
anu wiz Will IlOI De auJnOrlZeQ TO
enter into or conduct any negotia-
tions of a political character"
The recalled consul general is
Marcel Malige, who came to WASH
ington for consultatio in mid
April.
A letter from Admiral Robert to
Associated Press Correspondent
Joseph Dynan was made public soon
thereafter disclosing certain condi-
tlons under which Admiral Robert
would be willing to swing Martinique
into the United Nations camp. One
OF these conditions was that a
sovereign French regime, recognized
as such, first must be established
in place of the groups presently led
by Gen. Charles de Gaulle and
Henri Giraud.
After his consultation here with
Secretary Hull the consul was sent
back to deliver the abrogation note
to Admiral Robert.