851G.01/11–444: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:37 p.m.]
316. ReEmbs 279, November 1, 4 [8] p.m.53 Chauvel54 remarked yesterday that France is most desirous of participating to the greatest possible extent its capacity permits in the recovery of Indochina (he recalled that little less than a division has been training at two points in North Africa for service in the Pacific). He added that there is a token detachment of a couple of thousand men already in India. Moreover, he said recruiting has been active and training has already commenced in metropolitan France for a French expeditionary force to the Pacific. It is hoped that these forces may eventually amount to two normal divisions. Personnel is to be drawn from the regular army and the FF1;55 the whole force is to be under the command of General Blaizot (Corps d’Armée) who recently arrived in India. [Page 781] General Blaizot has been instructed to report to Lord Louis Mountbatten.56
Adverting to France’s primary interest in Indochina, Chauvel made the point that the French Government is interested not only in a French force in India but also would be interested in French units to be included in forces which might strike from the Philippines toward Indochina if such plans were on foot.