124.90D/4
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. George Allen of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs
Mr. Barclay30 called to inquire whether we could give him anything to report to his Government concerning the significance of Mr. Wadsworth’s [Page 662] appointment to Beirut. I gave him generally the same information furnished Mr. Baudet, of the Fighting French delegation, on October 3.
Mr. Barclay said he knew that the decision of the American Government in this matter was welcome to his Government, and expressed the hope that Mr. Wadsworth would be able to arrive in Beirut very shortly. He said that British-Fighting French relations had improved considerably of late, and that although the Fighting French were apparently still imbued with the idea that the British had ulterior motives in Syria, he thought General de Gaulle would be sufficiently tractable in London, where he has just arrived, to enable the British to carry out their intention and desire to place the Fighting French in civil control in Madagascar. He said it would be a convenience to the British for the civil government of Madagascar to be managed by the Fighting French, who could utilize the civil servants in Madagascar who are willing to remain at their posts.
- R. E. Barclay, Second Secretary of the British Embassy.↩