Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, Europe, Volume II

851W.20/38

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Wesley Jones of the Division of European A fairs

[Washington,] September 16, 1942.

Mr. Barclay⁹⁶ came in this afternoon at our request.

Among other things, he said that the Embassy wished us informed of the most recent developments with respect to General de Gaulle. He referred to Lord Halifax’ secret communication of September 9 to the Secretary containing a proposed communication to General de Gaulle with respect to the future administration of Madagascar. Mr. Barclay went on to say that the communication had in fact been delivered to Messrs. Dejean and Pleven of the French National Committee in London who had in turn related the message to General de Gaulle in Syria with the suggestion that he accept the offer contained therein and return to London. General de Gaulle’s reply indicated his pleasure at the British proposal with respect to Madagascar and stated that he would return to London but must first visit Fighting French West Africa (French Equatorial Africa). He is now en route to Brazzaville, will return on September 23 to Cairo and thence will proceed to London.

I did not think it necessary to tell Mr. Barclay that the above developments had already been reported by our Consul at Beirut.⁹⁷

Mr. Barclay said that General de Gaulle appeared in his reply to have interpreted the British communication too liberally, that in fact the British were not committed to any definite line of action with respect to the future administration of Madagascar, that they had merely told the General what their original intentions had been in that respect and had said that they would discuss this proposition if he would agree to return to London. Barclay concluded, however, that whatever would eventually be worked out would probably be along the lines of the original British plans for a Free French Administrator in the Island.

96. R. E. Barclay, Second Secretary of the British Embassy.
97. Telegram No. 344, September 14, 8 p.m., from the Consul at Beirut, printed in vol. iv , in section under Syria and Lebanon entitled “Concern of the United States regarding British-Free French differences in Syria and Lebanon; attempts to effect settlement.”