851W.01/25: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:10 p.m.]
7069. The Foreign Office has just informed us that the agreement with General de Gaulle covering the administration of Madagascar is being signed this afternoon.97a The agreement we are told preserves “French sovereignty” over the Island and provides for the transfer of civil administration from British to French hands. General Legentilhomme, who has been named High Commissioner, is leaving almost immediately for Madagascar but will confer with General Platt at Nairobi en route concerning details of the turnover. The agreement is to take effect only upon Legentilhomme’s arrival. Provision is made that the British will be responsible for the defense of Madagascar. We have been promised the full text of the agreement which consists of the general terms and three annexes. The first of the latter gives the powers of the British General Officer commanding, the second is a special annex governing operations of the naval base of Diego Suarez and the third covers jurisdiction over British military and non-French nationals. It will be forwarded by air mail.98 An earlier draft was forwarded with the Embassy’s despatch No. 6313, November 18.99 A communiqué will be issued this afternoon but the text of the agreement is not being made public.