January 13, 1941.
5 p.m.
COPY
AMERICAN EMBASSY
VICHY.
NO DISTRIBUTION
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
FOR THE AMBASSADOR FROM THE SECRETARY.
The President has received a secret and personal message from Churchill who is apparently concerned lest the Marshal may not have fully realized that the message conveyed to him through the Charge d'Affaires came directly from the Prime Minister and involved more than a suggestion of assistance in the event that the French Government should decide to cross to North Africa.
After consulting Matthews concerning his conversation with the French authorities on the subject (see telegram No. 1208, December 31, 7 p.m.) and when a suitable occasion may present itself, you should indicate to the Marshal that you are acquainted with the British offer. You should, however, make it clear that you are not bringing the subject up for the purpose of obtaining an expression of opinion from the Marshal but only for the purpose of making certain that he understands that it was the British Prime Minister himself who made the offer and that the Prime Minister has informed this Government that the offer involved considerably more than a suggestion of assistance. There is no intention whatsoever of pressing the Marshal for any response; but you may say to him that you are holding yourself available should the Marshal desire to pursue the matter further.
DECLASSIFIED
By Authority of State Dept. Letters 8/14/69
