811.34544/12/12: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Kennedy ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 18—1:14 p.m.]
1267. Your 872, May 16 and my 1243, May 17, noon.60 Secret and personal for the President from Former Naval Person.
“Many thanks for your message for which I am grateful. I do not need to tell you about the gravity of what has happened. We are determined to persevere to the very end whatever the result of the great battle raging in France may be. We must expect in any case to be [Page 51] attacked here on the Dutch model before very long and we hope to give a good account of ourselves. But if American assistance is to play any part it must be available [soon].”
- Latter not printed.↩