AF (Paris) This telegram must be Vichy closely paraphrased be- fore being communicated Dated August 1, 1941 to anyone. (SC) Rec'd 6:45 a.m.; 2nd Secretary of State, Washington. 970, August 1, 4 p.m. (SECTION TWO) When we tried to rearm to defend our Colony it was the British who stopped us. We were faced in the light of these Japanese demands with three possible solutions: One, to fight. We could not, because we are at the end of our resources and have no meand of fighting after Syria. Secondly, merely to accept the Japanese demands. This I did not wish to do as it would have put us in the Axis. Third, to adopt the formula which we have of common defense of the Empire. The Japanese have for the past year treated us with perfect correctness and have now agreed to recognizw our sovereignty over the Colony. This is in marked contrast to the British whose sole aim, as has been amply demonstrated in Equatorial Africa, in New Caledonia and in Syria, is to take parts of the French Empire. They talk about giving the Syrians liberty, but there are difficulties in their way and already |