740.0011 Pacific War/2405: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Tuck) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 5—9:23 a.m.]
661. Department’s 308, May 4, 10 p.m.84 I saw Monsieur Laval this morning at 10:45 and delivered to him the statement contained in the Department’s 307 of May 4. Rochat was also present.
M. Laval informed me that he had already, been advised of the matter by his Ambassador in Washington and that he wished to take this occasion to formulate the most energetic protest on behalf of the Marshal’s Government both against the action taken in Madagascar and against the tenor of the statement which I had delivered to him. He informed me that Madagascar would be defended—in fact was being defended—and he read to me parts of a telegram from the Commander-in-Chief advising that Diego-Suarez had been attacked and that measures of defense had been taken. In this message the Commander-in-Chief expressed his personal loyalty to the French Government and maintained that his sentiments were shared by the inhabitants of the island.
During our interview M. Laval repeated on two occasions that he considered that the declaration contained in the final paragraph of our statement was “fabulous” (énorme). The Japanese he said in sending troops to Indochina had at least had the good grace to negotiate and had left the French Government sovereign rights in that colony whereas the United States Government not only judged it sufficient to confront him with a fait accompli but warned his Government at the same time that any warlike act on its part would be regarded as an attack upon the United Nations.
In view of the very serious nature of the situation he informed me that I would receive from him today for transmission to my Government a formal protest in writing.
The atmosphere during the meeting while correct was very strained.
- Not printed.↩