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ANNEX II.

LETTER FROM GENERAL DE GAULLE TO GENERAL ISMAY

5th December 1941.

209

My dear General,

J

Thank you for your letter of 2nd December.

As regards the operation which the French forces in the Chad territory might in certain circumstances carry out in Southern Libya, and for which preparations have been made by General Leclerc, I think it right to specify the conditions under which we would, should the occasion arise, undertake it.

(i)

The order to carry out the operation would be given by myself. As you know, the French forces in Africa, and more particularly those in the Chad territory, do not come under the British Command in the Middle East. But I am of course prepared at any time to receive suggestions as to the possible launching of the operation from the British authorities.

(ii)

For the sake of co-ordination I have instructed the French Command in Chad territory to keep in touch with British G.H.Q., Middle East. But this is merely liaison.

(iii)

Should the French forces from Chad reach their objective, they would remain under the orders of the French Command in Free Africa and not come under that of the 8th British Army. This is similar to what happened in the case of Kufra until, in agreement with General Wavell, the French withdrew from the oasis, leaving only a small detachment behind them.

I would further observe that I am so far unaware of the area and plan of campaign of the 8th British Army. For that reason alone I would be unable to place Free French forces in Africa under its command.

(iv)

These arrangements might obviously be varied, given other general conditions governing our participation in Libya. Thus it is clear that if French forces were taking a full share in the present campaign, we should necessarily have an allied command of the same nature as that to which I had previously agreed for the purposes of the Syrian campaign.

Yours very sincerely,

(Signed) C. DE GAULLE.

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