Foreign Relations of the United States, The Conferences at Washington, 1941–1942, and Casablanca, 1943

Hopkins Papers: Telegram

The British Lord Privy Seal (Attlee) to Prime Minister Churchill ¹

most secret
most immediate

[London,] January 12, 1942.

Taut 499. Following for Prime Minister from Lord Privy Seal.

Reference Grey 305² to which Eden is replying separately (Taut No. 502).³

Cabinet felt public opinion here would not understand why after Dakar, Syria, etc. de Gaulle was not allowed to occupy French territory which welcomed him. People will not appreciate going easy with Vichy. In our view State Department overestimated Vichy reaction. Would not American democratic sentiment welcome a plebiscite as proper way out of difficulty? I do not think Cabinet will acquiesce to our compelling de Gaulle though they have agreed to Eden trying persuasion.

1. The source text is marked “copy no. 1”.
2. Supra.
3. Infra.