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