740.0011 European War 1939/5334: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Leopoldville (Mallon)
Last sentence your August 30 noon. The Department desires to avoid as far as possible raising any question of principle in the matter of relations between this Government and the De Gaulle Committee. However, since it is your primary duty to protect American nationals and American interests in French Equatorial Africa and the Cameroon Mandate, you should maintain whatever personal contact [Page 642] may be necessary with, local officials for that purpose. You may call informally on the High Commissioner and state orally that you are personally prepared to cooperate with the French administrative authorities for the protection of American nationals and property in the territories under his jurisdiction. You will of course be careful in this connection to refrain from any action or statement which would commit this Government in any way.