437

Mr S. M. Bruce, High Commissioner in London, to Mr R. G. Menzies, Prime Minister

Cablegram 473 LONDON, 25 June 1940, 9.28 p.m.

FOR THE PRIME MINISTER MOST SECRET

Attitude to Petain Government in suspense pending development re alternative authority which more promising, Reynaud [1] and Campinchi [2] having declared intention of coming to England unless alternative Government set up in French colonial empire.

Gort [3] and Duff Cooper [4] left by air this morning to contact them at Perpignan and then proceed together to Morocco. This development may meet objection in paragraph 3 of 466. [5] Mittelhauser [6] in Syria has declared will take no orders from the Bordeaux Government and appears to have the support of troops.

BRUCE

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1 French Prime Minister until 16 June 1940.

2 French Minister of Marine until 16 June 1940.

3 Commander-in-Chief, British Field Force.

4 U.K. Minister of Information.

5 Document 432.

6 Commander-in-Chief of French forces in the Middle East.

_

[FA: A3195, 1.4710]