Office of the Historian

890E.01/644: Telegram

The Consul at Beirut (Gwynn) to the Secretary of State

Beirut, September 12, 1942—11 a.m.
[Received 1:28 p.m.]

342. I saw General de Gaulle yesterday. He began by discussing again American policy as regards Free France on the one hand and Vichy France on the other. Little new developed beyond what I have already reported in my 325, September 1, 10 p.m., but my impression is that he wanted to call my attention to the passage in his broadcast speech of September 8 which was probably meant for United States and which in translation reads as follows:

“Therefore France considers as false friends certain persons in the world who are pleased with her defeat and cultivate those who betrayed her; who instead should be shouting to her the only thing which might save her: Rise up, here are arms!”

2.
As concerns English war operations in Madagascar,69 he said he was quite satisfied to have British act as they are doing if they lived up to the terms of an agreement very recently signed with French National Committee. He also said he had someone in mind to appoint as Free French Governor of the island as soon as all resistance is overcome. He had received advice from British 48 hours [Page 633] before actual operations began and said it was distinct improvement over past.
3.
As to development of Franco-British conflict here de Gaulle was much less categoric than heretofore. His conversations with Willkie on 10th may have had their effect. (On these latter I shall not attempt to report as he is doubtless doing so himself and I was not present at all of them.) De Gaulle did indicate he envisaged solution satisfactory to himself as he thought British themselves would recognize their actions were indefensible now that they had been brought to light. He added that settlement must be reached. He said General Catroux who left for Egypt yesterday to visit Free French troops there would see General Alexander70 but probably would not see Caudy [Casey]. Latter’s principal assistant Hopkinson who was in Beirut on 9th and 10th saw no French officials. De Gaulle said that in any case he had no intention of returning to England in near future. I asked him if he would make his headquarters here. He replied either here or in Africa.

Repeated to Cairo.

Gwynn
  1. For correspondence on this subject, see vol. ii, pp. 687 ff.↩
  2. Gen. Sir Harold R. L. Alexander, Commander in Chief of British Forces in the Middle East.↩