Why Bearn remained at Martinique in 1940

Did American pressure keep Bearn at Martinique in 1940?

No, not primarily. Bearn needed repairs and was not considered ready for an Atlantic crossing.

The response shifts attention from diplomacy to material readiness. Bearn was not considered fit to cross the Atlantic. Water filtration and one of the triple-expansion engines are identified cautiously as possible trouble areas, while the exact defect remains disputed. When the carrier later joined the Allies under Free French control, she went to the United States for extensive engine work. Whatever the precise fault, the ship needed repair before an Atlantic passage.