812.79600/1–1145
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by the Deputy Director, Office of European Affairs (Hickerson)
Admiral Davidson26 called me on the telephone on January 17th and referred to the attached memorandum of January 16th27 which deals with the refusal of the Navy Department to approve the visit of a Mexican vessel, the Pez de Plata, to Clipperton Island. Admiral Davidson said that Admiral Fenard was coming in to see him that afternoon and he inquired whether I saw any objection to his telling Admiral Fenard perfectly frankly that the Navy Department did not wish to have civilians unnecessarily visit Clipperton in view of the military installation there. He said that he would make it clear that this was the policy that the military authorities followed everywhere and that although the military installation was confined to a weather station and observation post, they did not think it a good idea for civilians to go there unless it was necessary and they frankly did not think this at all necessary. He said that he would like to say further to Admiral Fenard that the Navy would of course have no objection to the visit of a bona fide French military man if a French officer wished to visit the island.
I told Admiral Davidson that I saw no objection whatever to his talking to Admiral Fenard in the foregoing sense.
This afternoon Admiral Davidson called me again and said that yesterday he talked to Admiral Fenard in the sense which he had indicated to me and that that appeared to have satisfied him. He said that Admiral Fenard came back to see him this afternoon and appeared unhappy over the Clipperton Island matter. He said that the Admiral inquired whether the Navy Department would be prepared to [Page 788] instruct the U.S. Naval officer in command at Clipperton to erect a small flag pole and run up a French flag and also to provide accommodations for a French officer to be stationed on the island.
Admiral Davidson said that he replied to Admiral Fenard that he would, of course, if the the Admiral wished, take this up with his superiors and the Commander in Chief but that he hoped very much that the Admiral would withdraw his request since it might be interpreted as casting doubt on the intentions of the United States Government and he was sure that Admiral Fenard did not wish to do this. Admiral Fenard said that in those circumstances he withdrew his request, and after a brief chat left Admiral Davidson’s office but obviously in an unhappy state of mind.
Admiral Davidson inquired whether I had any suggestions as to anything that could be done to make the French feel better about the situation. I replied that I personally felt that it would be a good idea if he offered to provide transportation to Clipperton for any French army or naval officer they wish to send out to look the island over briefly and return, perhaps by plane. I told the Admiral that I thought their position was perfectly reasonable about not wanting civilians to visit the island unnecessarily, but that I believed that the French were entitled to send an officer out there if they wished and that I understood the Navy would be willing to have him go. He said that was correct. I continued that I understood further that there was not much chance of a French army or naval officer getting transportation unless the Navy provided it. Admiral Davidson said that also was correct. He said he would think the matter over and we would discuss it further.