1. Most grateful for your spirited intervention 
      about "Dunquerque". It is quite 
 
      true that Toulon could not repair her for from three to six months 
      but why do we 
 
      want that hanging over our head anyway? Darlan's honour about 
      her never falling 
 
      into German hands is rooted in dishonour. A ship in dry dock 
      or under heavy repair 
 
      could not possibly get away before the Germans could lay hold 
      of Toulon. Their 
 
      officers and agents are on the spot all the time, and remember 
      how easy we found it 
 
      to cop the French ships at Portsmouth and Plymouth. We ought 
      to stick to our 
 
      settled policy of resisting all transfers of French ships from 
      Africa to German 
 
      controlled or potentially German controlled French ports and 
      encourage all movement 
 
      the other way. If Darlan gets the "Dunquerque" to Toulon 
      why should he not ask for 
 
      the "Jean Bart" from Casablanca or the "Richelieu" 
      from Dakar. Therefore I urge 
 
      strong and stern continuance of utmost pressure you can exert. 
      Evidently this is 
 
      most powerful as we have certain knowledge that they were to 
      sail on the morning of 
 
      the 4th, and all preparations made. Petain does not know half 
      what this dirty 
 
      Darlan does. It would be far better if your pressure deterred 
      Darlan, as it has 
 
      already, than that we should have to take rough action with all 
      its dangers.
 
      
 
 
2. The question is whether timely publicity 
      might not help to deter. Do you mind if 
 
      I say something like this on Wednesday in the Commons? Begins. 
      "There was always 
 
      the risk that Darlan might bring the