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      willing as regards their overseas territories to act independently 
      of the German or Italian dictators and are moreover ready to 
      adopt a more cooperative attitude than they have hitherto shown 
      in their dealings with His Majesty's Government.
 
      Sir S. Hoare has been informed for his secret information that 
      His Majesty's ships have orders to stop all French ships, both 
      warships and merchantmen, who attempt to proceed to French occupied 
      ports and all unescorted merchant ships proceeding to French 
      unoccupied or African ports. On the other hand, His Majesty's 
      ships for the present are acquiescing in the passage of French 
      merchant vessels from African ports to French Mediterranean ports 
      when under naval convoy.