Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, General, Volume I

740.0011 European War 1939/2767: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State

Paris, May 10, 1940—8 a.m.
[Received May 10—6:10 a.m.]

600. Rochat⁵³ informed me this morning that in addition to invading Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg, German bombers had dropped bombs on various towns in France notably Laon and Villers-Cotterets.

The news reaching the French Foreign Office from the Netherlands indicates that considerable numbers of German parachutists have been landed from planes in the neighborhood of The Hague and Rotterdam and that they are seriously interfering with the Dutch defense. The Dutch are fighting with all the forces at their command. The invasion of Luxembourg began by an attempt at infiltration shortly after 2 o’clock and a general attack about 4 o’clock this morning.

German planes flew over Paris at 5:00 this morning.

Bullitt

53. Charles Rochat, French Director of Political Affairs.