740.0011 European War 1939/16286: Telegram
The Minister in Egypt (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 1—12:28 p.m.]
1674. With reference to recent reports regarding hostilities in French Somaliland a British source advises that the incidents in question resulted from tribal disturbances and that British and Free French troops were not involved. According to the same source there is good reason to believe that the French authorities in Djibouti would be prepared to accord the British privileges for the use of the railway and harbor facilities at Djibouti on condition that the administration of the colony would remain in Vichy hands but the British are unwilling to accept these concessions for fear that by so doing a precedent [Page 596] would be set for the use of Bizerte and other Vichy bases by the Germans.
The view was also expressed that an attack in force against French Somaliland might not be strenuously opposed provided that the operation were carried out by the British without Free French cooperation. It was suggested, however, that the British would be hesitant to make such a move for fear of playing into the hands of Axis propagandists and that according to presently held views no action other than the maintenance of the blockade would be undertaken against Djibouti except in the guise of its being taken over by the Free French as a measure to forestall its possible use by the Axis.
As the Department is doubtless aware there has been considerable publicity given the Djibouti question by the Vichy radio in recent weeks and the situation has been still further dramatized by the installation of a broadcasting station at Djibouti devoted entirely to depicting its “martyrdom”.