CK                                 GRAY
                                   ( Paris ) 
                                   Bordeaux
 
                                   Dated June 16, 1940
 
                                   Rec'd 5:05 a.m.
 
Secretary of State
 
     Washington
 
     RUSH
 
     5, June 16, 2 a.m.
 
     While I do not wish to appear alarmist I am
 
convinced that the Department should immediately take
 
under consideration the probable need for emergency
 
evacuation from France to a nearby neutral port of
 
Americans still remaining in this area. The problem
 
may well (*) itself within a few hours or days and
 
our warships now at Lisbon appear to offer the only
 
feasible solution. It is of course a likelihood as
 
I have pointed out of an early uprising and ensuing
 
conditions of near chaos which compels me to urge
 
you to give immediate consideration to this question.
 
     I shall telegraph an estimate of the approximate
 
number of Americans now in the Bordeaux and Biarritz
 
regions and suggested evacuation points.
 
                         BIDDLE
EMB
(*) apparent omission
 
BIDDLE
 
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