The United States Foreign Relations with Vichy Government, 1940-1942

Abstract

To attempt to find clear cut distinctions within the Vichy policy of the United States is almost impossible. There are contradictions and "double-edged swords" lurking behind almost every development. The policy was not all good, and neither can it be called completely bad. To say that the United States recognized Vichy and attmpted to set it up against democracy or left-wing tendencies is preposterous. To claim that the recognition of Vichy and continued relations with it were all a huge plot to subvert the deGuallist movement belongs in the same category. I shall never maintain that there were not instances in which the policy of the Vichy government worked to the disadvantage of the United States. There were instances of this sort. They were small in comparison to what was prevented by the presence of the United States pressure and threats of the halt of supplies of the recall of the Ambassador. Vichy could never have allowed the break of relations with the United States while it still held some semblance of power. With the complete occupation of France, the power was gone. The symbols of the power were the colonies and the fleet. However, by that time the colonies were in the hands of the Allies. [From concluding section]