890D.01/660: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 8—10 p.m.]
5615. Embassy’s 5102, September 11, 7 p.m.78 We have learned that shortly after General de Gaulle’s return from Syria about 10 days ago it was made very plain to him that if he continued in maintaining the attitude he did in Syria he would only be doing harm to the cause of the Fighting French. While his first reaction was violent and he retired to sulk in his tent, these words, we have been told by the Foreign Office, had a somewhat sobering effect on de Gaulle. He later sent Dejean79 to the Foreign Office with suggestions for a settlement of the Syrian question based in part on an announcement for the holding of elections next April and withdrawal of Fighting French claims to take over Allied Command in the Levant. We understand British Embassy has been authorized to convey substance of these suggestions to the Department. Discussions are proceeding satisfactorily.
The French National Committee had been given to understand that the opening of discussions on Madagascar was contingent on clearing up the situation in Syria. Any future discussions on Madagascar, the Foreign Office says, would be based on the understanding that military control of Madagascar is to remain in British hands, the role of the Fighting French being limited to civil administrative matter.