740.00112 European War 1939/4074

The French Ambassador (Henry-Haye) to the Secretary of State

[Translation]

His Excellency the Under Secretary of State informed the Ambassador of France, during their conversations of October 356 and of November 6, that the mission sent by the Federal Government to French Equatorial Africa was strictly for the purpose of obtaining information.

The information in question was communicated to the French Government.

In reply, the Ambassador was instructed to advise the Federal Government that, even though it lacked an official character, the mission in question was, nevertheless in the eyes of the French Government, for the purpose of contacting the dissident authorities and that the unfriendly character of the step was heightened by the participation in the mission of officers and officials who were on active duty.

Mr. Henry-Haye avails himself [etc.]

  1. No record of conversation of October 3 found in Department files.