851W.20/28
The British Embassy to the Department of State 88
On August 12th the British Embassy communicated an Aide-Mémoire to the State Department89 containing the latest information regarding the situation in Madagascar.
Lord Halifax90 has now been instructed to inform the Secretary of State for his most secret information that His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom have come to the conclusion that no useful purpose will be served by further attempts to reach a modus vivendi in Madagascar through negotiation with the Governor-General. [Page 704] Governor-General. It is clear that the Governor-General is unwilling to take action without authority of the Vichy Government and that the latter will accept no settlement likely to cause them trouble with the Germans. There is thus no hope of obtaining by peaceful means adequate safeguards against future Axis penetration.
In these circumstances His Majesty’s Government have decided to undertake further harassing operations in Madagascar with a view to extending their occupation over the whole Island. The date of the operation is imminent.
His Majesty’s Government’s intention is that the French National Committee should take over the civil administration of Madagascar as soon as possible after the conclusion of operations. The defence of the Island would be a British responsibility. Diego Suarez and possibly other strategic areas would remain under direct British military control. In order to avoid the risk of strengthening resistance nothing will be published for the time being about the further role of the Fighting French in Madagascar. No Free French troops will take part in the operations.
Nothing will be said to the Fighting French about the operations until a few hours before zero hour when General de Gaulle will be informed of the plans in strictest confidence. He will be told of His Majesty’s Government’s intention to associate the Fighting French with the administration of Madagascar and will be asked to have someone ready to assume the functions of the Governor-General as soon as the general military situation permits. His Majesty’s Government will suggest that General Legentilhomme91 might well be appointed for the purpose. His Majesty’s Government will also explain to General de Gaulle why they are postponing any public mention of the future role of the Fighting French in Madagascar.
As soon as the operations have begun His Majesty’s Government propose to issue a declaration explaining their action, the provisional draft outline of which is attached.92
In communicating the foregoing to Mr. Hull for his most secret information, the British Embassy has been instructed to express the hope that the United States Government will be prepared, as in the case of the operations against Diego Suarez, to issue a simultaneous statement on their account indicating that His Majesty’s Government have acted with their entire approval.