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IMMEDIATE.
No.
FRACO.
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ANNEX I.
DRAFT TELEGRAM.
206
Addressed
Most
From Secretary of State for Colonies. 0. A. G., Aden. Repeated C.-in-C., Middle East. Secret.
Your Telegram No. 512.
1. You have done well to obtain from Gros so full an expression of his aims, but your arguments and recommenda- tions thereon are not entirely in accordance with the policy of H.M. Government in the wider issues involved.
2. The touchstone of our policy is no concessions unless they are manifestly to our advantage. The operat- ing word is "manifestly". The policy of Vichy is controlled in every essential by our enemies. French colonial governments subservient to Vichy may not realise this, but the fact remains.
3. We do not at present wish French Somaliland to declare for de Gaulle. This would afford perfect pretext for Italians to invade and we cannot at present reinforce. We do not wish Italians to invade French Somaliland, though, should they do so, we can bombard Jibuti and other suitable targets, while occupation of French Somaliland would employ significant Italian forces.
4. As a matter of justice as well as of tactics we must insist on liberally compensating sufferers from our recent accidental bombardment of Jibuti. We must give maximum publicity to our intentions in this respect.
5. We cannot permit the four battalions to leave Jibuti. They could not forward our policy in Indo-China even if Japanese allowed them to arrive. They may be of use to us if left where they are. At worst they are useless mouths.
6. "Espérance" is our prize by every rule of war and will be confiscated, though you should not so inform Gros.
7. We see no advantage to ourselves in the evacuation of sick, wounded or anyone else from Jibuti, but would be prepared to allow the evacuation of a very limited number of individuals in cases separately approved from time to time by H. M. Consul, who would be guided by the principle that such persons would not be of the type who would hamper the Free French movement in Madagascar.
8. You should base your conversations with Gros on the idea that we may allow driblets of stores, including perhaps those from "Espérance", in exchange for coal and oil already in French Somaliland. It would, of course,
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