851W.20/34
The British Ambassador (Halifax) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: I have had another telegram from the Foreign Office with reference to the question of Madagascar about which I wrote to you on September 2nd. In the aide-mémoire which I left with you on August 24th it was stated that the British Government’s intention was that the French National Committee should take over the civil administration of the island as soon as possible after the conclusion of the military operations, but that it was not proposed to say anything to the Fighting French authorities until very shortly before the start of these operations. I have now been asked to let you know for your most secret information that the question of the participation of the Fighting French in the administration of Madagascar has been affected by General de Gaulle’s recent embarrassing behaviour in Syria.95 Until the Syrian situation [Page 706] is satisfactorily cleared up, the British Government do not propose to commit themselves to General de Gaulle to allow the Fighting French to assume the administration of Madagascar. The British authorities are considering whether in these circumstances they should still give the General advance warning of the impending military operations, and if so, what if anything they should say to him about the question of the administration of the island. As soon as a decision on these points has been taken, the Foreign Office will telegraph again to the Embassy.
In another telegram from the Foreign Office, Mr. Eden emphasises once again how anxious the British Government are that the United States Government should issue at the appropriate moment some statement on the lines of the very helpful announcement which they made at the outset of operations against Diego Suarez early in May. I very much hope that the United States Government will feel able to take action in this sense, and should be very grateful to be informed as soon as possible of the decision which they reach in the matter.
Believe me [etc.]