AF (Paris) This telegram must be Vichy closely paraphrased be- fore being communicated Dated August 1, 1941 to anyone. (SC) Rec'd 7:01 a.m.; 2nd Secretary of State, Washington. 970, August 1, 4 p.m. (SECTION THREE) I pointed out to the Marhsal, (who gave no in- dication of his feelings other than an occasional nod during Darlan's at times bitter denunciation of the British) the existence of the danger of an attack against the United States territory launched from Indochinese bases should the situation grow worse. He admitted that but said that France is helpless and that he himself "is not a free agent," occupied as the country is. To my inquiry as the whether he thought the Japanese would keep their promise to res- pect French sovereignty in Indochina, the Marhsal replied, "We had to take a chance on that." Darlan added, "I do not know. But Churchill promised on June 12, 1940, and the Marshal heard him, that if we had to seek an armistice he would understand our po- sition and his friendship toward France would undergo no change. The sequel of this was Mers-El-Kebir. At least |