Evening star., 1943-10-07
Don't Give Up Fleet,
i. ). Warned France,
State Papers Reveal
Roosevelt Told Leohy
To Approach Petoin
Over Head of LovoI
" the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
When France fell in 1910 and
prepared to sign an armistice
the United States warned her
that she must keep her fleet out
OF German hands or lose forever
the friendship and good will of
the Government of the United
States"
That was revealed last night in
diplomatic exchanges published by
the State Department which will
appear in the Departments forth
coming documented edition Of
Peace and War-U. S. Foreign Pol
icy, l93l-l94l.'
The exchanges began with a note
from Secretary oi State Hull on
June II. 1910, to Ambassador J.
DreXel Biddle. ir. then at the pro-
visional capital AT Bordeaux. where
the French government had fed
while the armisticc with Germany
was being negotiated.
Biddle Instructed.
Mr.. Hull instructed Mr., Biddle
to tell Admiral Jean Darlan and
the French Foreign Minister that
in the opinion of this Government
should the French government be-
lore concluding any armistice with
the Germans, fail to see that the
fleet is kept out of the hands of her
opponents. the French government
Will be pursuing policy which will
fatally impair the preservation of
the French Empire and the even
tual restoration Of French inde-
pendence and autonomy.
Furthermore" Mr.. Biddle was
told 10 say. should the French gov
eminent fail to take these steps and
permit the French fleet to be sur
rendered TO Germany. the French
government will permanently lose
the friendship and good will of the
Government of the United States. =
Mr.. Blddle replied the next dav,
relaying the first of many French
assurances that the feet would never
be surrendered to the Germans. The
French would not promise to turn
the fleet over to the British. he said.
but indicated that it might be sent
overseas or sunk. He urged the
French to move it to a safe place
rather than destroy it.
Gave Envoy Warning.
On October 25. l940 Mr.. Hull told
the French Ambassa dor in Washing
ton that allowing the Germans to
use the French fleet would consti-
tute a flaerant breach Of faith with
the United States Government. ANY
such agreement with Germany, he
said, would permanently remove
any chance that this Government
would be disposed to give any assist
ance to the French people in their
distress and would create a wave of
bitter indignation against France on
the part of American public opinion.
IF France pursued such policy
the United States could make
no effort when the appropriate time
came to exercise its influence to
insure to France the retention of her
overseas possessions.
The documents indicate that the
French maintained an attitude of
panied surprise that the United
States would question their declared
purpose of keeping the fleet out of
German hands.
Marshal Petain sent word to Presi-
dent Roosevelt that he considered
the American "appraisement As in
accurate as it is unjust" Out of a
desire to maintain friendship. he
would refrain from calling attention
to elements in the United States
notes which might make him uues-
ton the fair attitude of the Amer
ican Government" he said.
Relations Strained.
BY November. 1910, United States
diplomatic relations with Vichy were
In the same questionable class as
relations with Berlin, Rome and
Toxic, Mr.. Hull told French Am
baSsador CASTOR Henri Have.
The definite impression created
here and everywhere by Mr.. Laval
IS That he is an extreme partisan of
Hitler and Mussolini and very bitter
toward Great Britain Mr.. Hull
said.
He added sternlv that this Gov
eminent had supreme and firm
purpose to have no relations with
any government such as that of
Vlchy. which would give the slight
est ENCOURAGEMENT to Hitler
The situation at the end of 1910
was reviewed in a letter from Mr..
Roosevelt to Admiral William D.
Leahy, then leaving to take up the
post OF Ambassador to Vichy.
Wanted British Victory.
Mr.. Roosevelt told Admiral Leahy
to go over the heads of the French
cabinet and convince Marshal
Petain that German victory would
reduce France to the status of
vassal,
Il had reason to believe" Mr.
Roosevelt said. that Petain was not
cognizant Of all the acts" Of For