A top secret telegram from Winston Churchill has revealed his fears that France would declare war on Britain after the Royal Navy destroyed part of the French fleet, reports The Times.
It was sent to the commanders-in-chief of the British colonies immediately after the raid, which left 1,297 French sailors dead and 350 injured. Churchill ordered the attack in July 1940 because of concern that French naval forces would be taken by the Nazis, who had recently agreed an armistice after occupying a large part of the country.
Recipients of the telegram included Sir John Dill, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, whose copy is now being sold by a relative.
The message, stamped “Secret Cipher Telegram” and headed “Secret”, was sent from the War Office, breaking news of the raid on the French fleet, which had been anchored off the Algerian port of Mers-el-Kebir. One battleship was sunk and two were damaged, along with four destroyers. The British lost six aircraft, with just two casualties.
The message says: “British naval forces asked the French naval authorities to take certain steps to prevent a number of important French naval units at this port from falling into German hands undamaged.
“The French declined to take these steps. Heavy action ensued between British and French naval forces, with great and much regretted loss to the French. We cannot tell what the consequences may be, but every precaution should be taken in case the French declare war against us. Further particulars later.” The attack did not have the consequence Churchill feared, although it soured relations between the two countries for decades. The raid was responsible for the deaths of more Frenchmen than any other action of the Second World War. When Churchill told the House of Commons he was cheered by all sides.
The French response was a half-hearted attempt to bomb Gibraltar. Pierre Laval, a leading member of the Vichy Government which had capitulated to the Germans, offered Hitler 500 French pilots for an attack on Britain, an offer dismissed by Hitler.
Read more of this report from The Times.