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6.
Accordingly, I have merely acknowledged the letter at Annex II, adding that I am so glad that General de Gaulle's desire for French troops to participate in the Libyan battle is now to be satisfied.
(Signed) H.L.ISMAY.
ANNEX I.
COPY OF LETTER FROM GENERAL ISMAY TO GENERAL DE GAULLE
2nd December 1941.
My dear General,
Thank you for your letter of the 28th November. I placed it before the Chiefs of Staff at their meeting this morning and they asked me to communicate the summary of it to the High Command in Cairo.
As regards your reservation of the right to launch an operation from Chad against Murzuk on your own initiative at an opportune moment, we have heard from General Auchinleck that arrangements have already been made for a small Free French force, under Colonel Leclerc, to advance at the appropriate time from Faya to the area Gatrun Tejerri, where it will come under the command of the 8th Army (i.e. the Army at present operating in Libya). The force was to be at three days' notice to move from the 30th November, but the actual date of the move was naturally dependent upon the progress of the Libyan campaign.
Having regard to the above arrangement, the Chiefs of Staff hope that in all the circumstances you will allow this operation to proceed under the conditions which have been already arranged between the Commanders on the spot.
In conclusion, please accept my warmest thanks for your kind wishes for good fortune in the offensive which is now in progress in Northern Africa against our common foe. It is being a very bitter fight, but I think that we have grounds for sober confidence.
Yours very sincerely,
m2m
(Signed) H.L. ISMAY,
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