740.0011 European War 1939/26611: Telegram
The Consul at Aden (Timberlake) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 20—4:03 a.m.]
53. Reference my telegram No. 52, and particularly telegram quoted therein from Fowkes to me referring to “a gentlemen’s agreement”. I have just seen copies of two telegrams from Foreign [Page 609] Office to Department concerning such alleged agreement. I wish to assure Department there was no agreement of any kind understood or implied. I entered French Somaliland and made investigation without any prearrangement with Jibuti authorities or knowledge by them that I was going there. I was permitted as reported to carry on investigation by tacit consent French and without any arrangement whatever. They may, of course, be using such story to hold out against pressure to accept Free French. Since Fowkes appears to be using two telegrams of mine to try and persuade French that I am out of the picture I quote the correspondence herewith. Following is telegram from Platt [Fowkes?] to me dated December 14:
“As unfortunately you have not yet been authorized to make approach to Jibuti authorities suggested by General Platt in his message of December 11 through the Governor of Aden I have now been instructed by General Platt to approach Governor myself along similar lines. I am therefore addressing a letter to General Dupont in which after referring to principles set out in General Platt’s message, I have requested him to fix a meeting with Chancel and myself at an early date. As Jibuti authorities in a reply to Chancel’s letter have indicated that they are awaiting some further move from you I am informing them that you are aware of my proposed action, which from information received from HM Ambassador Washington I gather does not conflict with views of United States Government. It would certainly help in my discussions with Governor if you felt able to send me a message by tomorrow night, to effect that you had no instructions to embark on any discussions over future of Jibuti. This will prevent any attempt to drive a wedge between ourselves and yourself”. I replied December 15 as follows: “My Government could not have received my full report until late December 13 and I expect reply by tomorrow 16. I recommended Department authorize me deliver General Platt’s proposal and try persuade General Dupont accept. I believe that if I am authorized by my Government to urge acceptance and so inform Dupont the chances of securing cooperation of Jibuti will be considerably improved.”
On receipt Department’s No. 44, I telegraphed as follows to Platt and Fowkes:
“I have just been instructed urgently by my Government that it is taking up urgently with British Government and British Ambassador at Washington the matter of presentation of joint Anglo-Fighting French proposal to General Dupont. I am instructed ‘to request General Platt to withhold action until such time as a decision is reached and further instructions issued to me.’[”]