DEPARTMENT OF STATE
                                
                           WASHINGTON
 
 
                                        June 17, 1941
 
My dear General Watson:
 
     The American Ambassador at Vichy has received from
 
a trusted friend and former assistant of M. Paul Reynaud, 
 
ex-Premier of France, copies of letters which M. Reynaud
 
recently addressed to Marshal Petain from his prison at
 
Vals.
 
     M. Re ynaud has requested that copies of these let-
 
ters be handed to the President and translations of them
 
are enclosed. In view of the reprisals that may be taken
 
against M. Reynaud's person should it be known that he had
 
caused these letters to leave France, his emissary earnest-
 
ly requests that they be accorded the most confidential
 
treatment.
 
                    Sincerely yours,
 
                    /s/ Sumner Welles
 
 
ENCLOSURES:
Copies of letters
in translation as
stated above.
 
 
 
Major General Edwin M. Watson, 
Secretary to the President,
The White House.