740.0011 European War 1939/11994: Telegram
The Ambassador in France ( Leahy ) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 13—10:05 a.m.]
682. My telegram 680, June 12, 7 p.m. Marshal Pétain received me in the presence of Admiral Darlan. After I had delivered the message the Marshal said: “The British have attacked us. We said that we were going to defend our territory and we shall do so all the way up to the Turkish frontier. We know that we shall lose Syria but we are determined to fight to the end.” Admiral Darlan stated that British and Gaullist forces vastly outnumber the French forces, the former totaling approximately 50,000 men against some 3 divisions or roughly 25,000 French and colonial forces. The British are also sending reinforcements. In addition, said the Marshal, the British have “several hundred tanks” and the French none.
The fact, he went on, that the British have been held so well so far (and he showed me on the map) constitutes “almost a French victory”, particularly in view of the support given the British coastal column by naval units. Darlan remarked that he hoped, however, “to sink a couple of British warships very soon” (thus appearing to confirm reports of the sending of French submarines to that area).
While the manner of both was cordial and personally friendly throughout the interview they seemed to resent the implication that the French defense of Syria is to help Hitler. Darlan said that had this been the case they would have accepted “the aid which the Germans offered” and which, he went on, the French had “formally refused”; they are determined to fight the battle of Syria by themselves he said. “If the British think that they are going to stop a German drive on Suez by conquering Syria they are gravely mistaken”, Darlan went on, “for the Germans have never planned to use Syria in their major operation.” On the other hand letters in French possession, he said, which date back 6 months conclusively show that the British even at that time were planning an invasion of Syria. “In fact”, said Darlan, “they always wanted Syria.”
Darlan likewise expressed surprise that the Department’s message gave no recognition to the fact that the British had attacked the French without warning.
Both the Marshal and Admiral Darlan appeared surprisingly calm and resigned to the loss of Syria. Darlan indicated however that this would be “the last affront” which the French would submit to on the part of the British. He also said that a written reply to the aide-mémoire would be prepared.
Repeated to Algiers.