CR 466.  FROM BULLITT, CAIRO, SECRET TO THE PRESIDENT.
 
WHEN I FIRST REACHED CAIRO, I SUGGESTED TO LYTTLETON THAT IT SHOULD 
NOT BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE FRENCH FLEET IN ALEXANDRIA (1 BATTLE-
 
SHIP, 3 HEAVY CRUISERS, 1 LIGHT CRUISER, 4 DD'S, AND 1 SUB) TO COME
OVER TO OUR SIDE. HE SAID THAT THE DIFFICULTY WAS THAT THERE WAS
MUCH TOO MUCH HOSTILITY ON THE PART OF THE FRENCH OFFICERS AND MEN
BOTH TO THE BRITISH AND TO THE FREE FRENCH TO BE WILLING TO JOIN
EITHER OF THOSE FORCES.  IT WAS MY SUGGESTION THAT PERHAPS THEY
WOULD BE WILLING TO JOIN THE AMERICAN FLEET.  LYTTLETON WAS
IMPRESSED WITH THE IDEA AND TELEGRAPHED TO CHURCHILL BUT HAS HAD
AS YET TO REPLY.  WHEN I RETURNED TO CAIRO YESTERDAY I AGAIN
DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH LYTTLETON.  HE IS STILL OF THE OPINION THAT
IT OCULD BE PUT THROUGH IF YOU AND CHURCHILL SO DESIRE.  I SHOULD LIKE
TO MINUTELY EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES AND SUGGEST THAT YOU AND I USE
AS A PRIVATE CODE "JOHN PAUL JONES" AND REFER TO IT IN FUTURE
COMMUNICATIONS MERELY BE THE WORD "JOHN" "PAUL" OR "JONES".. THE
FRENCH SHIPS ARE IN BAD CONDITION; AND I MAY FIND DIFFICULTIES WHICH
WOULD MAKE ANY ACTION UNDESIRABLE.  IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SHOULD OUR
CAUSE BE JOINED BY THE FRENCH FLEET AT ALEXANDIRA IT WOULD BRING
ABOUT THE DANGER OF AN ERUPTION FROM DARLAN AND THE GERMANS. I
SHOULD BE INCLINED TO TAKE A CHANCE ON THAT.  HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
IT.  WOULD YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO FRENCH FLEET HERE RUNNING UP
THE AMERICAN FLAG?  UNTIL I HEAR FROM YOU I SHALL DO NOTHING.
 
ACTION: PRES.  U.S.....
PERSONAL FILE....                            271215.
 
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