812.79600/1–2245: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to Secretary of State
[Received January 23—11:40 p.m.]
304. Bidault handed to me this afternoon an undated note a translation of which reads as follows.
“The Provisional Government of the Republic has recently learned of the installation, at Clipperton, of a meteorological station of the United States Navy. From information furnished by the French Ambassador at Washington, it appears that notification of this installation was amply made, on December 22 last, by the American Navy Department, to the Chief of the French Naval Mission in the United States, no previous authorization having been requested of the French Government.
On the other hand, having been advised of the departure from a Mexican port, for Clipperton, of the French Military Attaché at [Page 789] Mexico, the American Ambassador replied, on the 13th of this month, to the French representative in that capital, that in view of the objections raised by the American Navy, the Mexican Government had been invited to refuse an exit permit for the vessel which had been chartered for the purpose.
The French Government finds itself compelled to protest against such methods so contrary to international usage and to which it is all the more sensitive since they are employed by a friendly nation.
It is, of course, understood that the French Government reserves the right to send to Clipperton, by the means at its disposal, such personnel as it may appear useful to it to send and maintain there.
The Government of the United States is aware of the extent to which the French Government is desirous to cooperate, in all domains, to the success of the Allied Armies, in Europe as well as in the Pacific. It will understand, however, its concern that French sovereignty be not disregarded in any part of the empire.
In the circumstances, the military interest of the Allies is entirely reconcilable with the respect of French sovereignty.
The French Navy is, as a matter of fact, capable of organizing in the island, in liaison with the United States Navy, the meteorological services necessary to the war effort. It would be all the more happy to cooperate in this region with the American Navy because France has the strongest desire to take, at the side of the United States, its part in the defense of French possessions in the Pacific and to contribute to the struggle against Japan to the full measure of its possibilities.”
Bidault remarked: “This is very humiliating to us. We are so anxious to cooperate with you, but sometimes you do not make it easy.”