811.91262/236: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State

1073. From Paris. By telephone to Vichy: Department’s 916, April 3, 3 p.m.

1.
On April 4 I telegraphed a report containing the facts as they then appeared which would enable the Department to reply to “increasingly numerous and imperative” inquiries referred to in your telegram that crossed mine. News received today states that since the 4th “matters are not going so well”. On that day word was given to our friend that those conducting the inquiry are “investigating further the possibility” that the purpose of the trip was “activities not kosher” under the present conditions that obtain.
2.
There are so many factors involved with respect to the Department’s question number 2 that I am not yet prepared to give a definite reply. I shall consider the query as constituting authority to take affirmative action in the event that I conclude that such would be advisable. In any event, I shall not fail to do all that I can in this case.
3.
In this connection I wish to state that since April 3, I have wanted to report that the principle of retaliation, even with respect to persons, is one that this Embassy may soon have to protest against in behalf of numerous persons who do not wear bell-shaped pants. I am now so certain that this principle has an appeal that I can no longer hesitate. I still hope that good sense will prevail amongst those who contemplate such action but being without any assurances on this score I agree with numerous of my acquaintances who are taking the only action possible to safeguard against inconvenience. This situation renders even more difficult an intelligent reply at this moment to the Department’s question 2.
4.
Please give same dissemination to paragraph 1 and only paragraph 1 of this telegram as you did to my telegram referred to in that paragraph. Barnes.
Leahy