'• Br. Interests In Guadeloupe & Martinique.     239/    / /41
BRITISH EMBASSY,
WASHINGTON, D.C.
10th January 1941.
3ir,
The Department of  ;tate have been good
enough to forward to me a copy of your letter, dated
the 29th November, to the American Vice-Consul in
Martinique9 describing your own situation and
expressing a deeire to be informed what the present
position is in regard to the protection of British
interests in the island.
I em sending a copy of your letter to
the Foreign office with the suggestion that they should
furnish me with any co.caents they iiiay have to uake for
me to forward to you throu^i the saue channel of
coi.munication through which the present message is
being sent.       I hope that by this method any uncer-
tainty that you may feel regarding your general position
May in due course be removed.
The protection of British interests in
Guadeloupe hae been the subject of an exchange of
communications betv/een this Sabaasy and the department
of state.       The latter have agreed to a request, made
^o them on instructions from the   oreign office, that
the United states Consul in .artinique should be charged
With the formal protection of British interests in
Guadeloupe.       It is understood, however, that a United
states Vice-Consulate will shortly be opened in
Guadeloupe and it has been arranged that as soon as
this takes place the united states Vice-Consul will
/as suae
His Majesty's Consul,
Guadeloupe.
FRHM:AR:KIP
assui-oe the protection of British interests. In
the .aeantime the state Department have suggested
that in order to clarify the position it would
be very helpful if you yourself would confirm to
the French authorities that the United states
Government have charge of British interests in
Guadeloupe.       I hope you will see your way to
acting on this suggestion.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,