740.00112 European War 1939/3455
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Samuel Reber of the Division of European Affairs
A copy of the French Ambassador’s communication with regard to the situation in French Somaliland was handed to the British Embassy on August 27.69a
On September 8, Mr. Barclay, Second Secretary of the British Embassy, called to explain the position of the British Government in this respect. He stated that conversations regarding the blockade of the Somali Coast had taken place between the British and French Ambassadors in Madrid.70 On July 6, the British Ambassador70a was instructed to reply to a French protest regarding the blockade, stating that the responsibility for the present situation rested entirely with the French Government which had not responded to the British suggestion for the evacuation of women and children from the Colony of Madagascar and to admit small supplies of food pending this evacuation. The British Embassy had been instructed to inform the Department that the British Government could not take the risk that the situation which had developed in Syria and Indo-China would be repeated in Somaliland. The British Government wished further to point out that the decision taken with regard to permitting certain milk supplies to reach Somaliland had been taken before it had been approached by the International Red Cross, although the [Page 594] French Government had claimed that this decision had only been taken upon the repeated insistence of the Red Cross. Under these circumstances the British Government could not agree to the free passage for a French vessel coming from Madagascar. The British Government also saw no reason to transfer negotiations with regard to Somaliland to Washington from Madrid where direct contact between the two Governments had been established.
This latter consideration, together with the British refusal to permit free passage for the Commandant Dorize was communicated to the Counselor of the French Embassy71 on September 8.