740.0011 European War 1939/73241/3: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 28—8:05 p.m.]
4232. For the Secretary and the Under Secretary. Foreign Office would be grateful if following message or paraphrase thereof from Dupuy, Canadian Chargé d’Affaires to Vichy Government now in London, may be sent in cipher urgently to American Embassy Vichy.69
“Following for M. Jacques Chevalier, Minister of Public Education, to be handed by him personally to Marshal Pétain.
I have been requested by the Prime Minister to transmit to you the following most secret message.
- 1.
- If at any time in the near future the French Government decide to cross to North Africa or to resume the war there against Italy and Germany, we would be willing to send a strong and well equipped expeditionary force up to six divisions to aid the defence of Morocco, Algiers, and Tunis. These divisions could sail as fast as shipping and landing facilities were available. We now have a large, well equipped army in England, and have considerable spare forces already well trained and rapidly improving, apart from what are needed to repel invasions. The situation in the Middle East is also becoming good.
- 2.
- The British Air Force has now begun its expansion, and would also be able to give important assistance.
- 3.
- The command of the Mediterranean would be assured by the reunion of the British and French fleets and by our joint use of Moroccan and North African bases.
- 4.
- We are willing to enter into staff talks of the most secret character with any military representatives nominated by you.
- 5.
- On the other hand, delay is dangerous. At any time the Germans may, by force or favour, come down through Spain, render unusable the anchorage at Gibraltar, take effective charge of the batteries on both sides of the Straits and also establish their air forces in the aerodromes. It is their habit to strike swiftly, and if they establish themselves on the Moroccan coast, the door would be shut on [Page 433] all projects. The situation may deteriorate any day, and prospects be ruined unless we are prepared to plan together and act boldly. It is most important that the French Government should realize that we are able and willing to give powerful and growing aid. But this may presently pass beyond our power. Dupuy.”
The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs will be most grateful if the Department would transmit the foregoing to Vichy as soon as may be possible.
- The following message was transmitted to the Chargé in France in telegram No. 898, December 29, 1 p.m., with instructions that in delivering message he should “make it clear that this Government is acting only as transmitting agent and accepts no responsibility whatsoever for contents of the message.” (740.0011 European War/7345a)↩