28 Nov 1935 - Hôtel Matignon, Paris

[Diarist]

At Hôtel Matignon Édouard Daladier met us personally at the entrance. "It's good to meet you again, Sir. I see we've both received a promotion."
"Yes, we have indeed, Sir Robert. Sir George and Colonel de Gaulle, bonjour. Please enter."
We were brought to a splendid conference room and I was introduced to his Defence Council. There were a couple of new faces but I recognized most of the people present.
"I believe it is appropriate that the first foreign guests I receive as Président du Conseil are from Grand Bretagne, our most important ally in these difficult times."
"I am honoured Monsieur le Président. Our government also considers France our most important ally. I would like to congratulate you on your victory in the elections for the Chamber of Deputies. A resounding victory if I may say so. Our mutual victory against Mussolini appears to have dampened the ambitions of the socialists in both France and Britain."
"I agree entirely. Winston Churchill speaks highly of you in your new capacity. What exactly do you do in the Ministry of Defence?"
"In a nutshell, I am responsible for armed forces readiness. I try to maximize the use of our limited resources while minimizing waste on useless designs. Also my office is the link between TRADOC and the Ministry of Defence. Winston keeps me busy and I keep him out of trouble."
"I need someone like you in Paris. What brings you here?"
"Several reasons, Sir. One is to discuss further military cooperation, another is to share the fruits of our current cooperation. I have with me detailed plans and reports about our armoured warfare doctrine. COL de Gaulle is well versed in this doctrine and we have several proposals. This is classified information, Sir so we are requesting it only be shown to people on a need-to-know basis. We don't want our 'friends' in Germany receiving a copy."
"Of course not."
"In Britain there has been a struggle between the advocates of trench warfare and mobile or armoured warfare. The former have been defeated and one of my jobs is to coordinate the formation of armoured brigades which will eventually become armoured divisions by the end of 1937. We also have units which augment infantry divisions giving them armour support and support against enemy armour. It's all in that dossier."
"This is very detailed, and in French. Thank you."
"Colonel de Gaulle was given that project. I'd like to add that Colonel de Tassigny has been tasked to create the 3rd Armoured Bde which will eventually become the 3rd Armoured Div."
"A French officer?"
"Yes, Sir. We are creating four brigades commanded by a British, a Canadian, a French and an American officer. We hope to spread the experience gained from NW Italy, and a recent training exercise in England, to our partners within TRADOC. They then take this experience home with them."
"An excellent idea. Which brings us to your proposal."
"We are requesting that you consider converting your 1st Motorized Division, which performed with distinction in Piedmont, to an armoured division using the TRADOC design and that Colonel de Gaulle be the armour commander within the division. I believe the 1st Motorized is an active division normally stationed in NE France?"
"That is not quite correct. It has returned to Lille."
"Thank you, General. We are hoping that you follow our request so that we can receive feedback from an independent source. We are also looking forward to objective criticism and suggestions for improvement."
"This is a very large division," General Maurice Gamelin commented.
"That's the peacetime barracks organization, General Gamelin. Please refer to chapter 5 for the battlefield organization."
"Very impressive and an extremely flexible organization," he commented after a few minutes. "Could we discuss this together this evening?"
"Colonel de Gaulle and I already have a meeting this evening but tomorrow morning would be fine."
"Agreed. Where are you staying? I can send a car to bring you both to my Headquarters."
"At the British Ambassador's residence."
Daladier asked about the further military cooperation I had mentioned earlier.
"Germany is trying to circumvent the Locarno Treaties. They considered the Franco-Russian agreement violated those treaties but it wasn't ratified. Now they argue that Italy cannot be considered a guarantor therefore Locarno no longer applies. TRADOC had visitors from Germany two weeks ago. One of them, Admiral Canaris, is part of Hitler's inner circle. We told him that it is irrelevant how Germany interprets the Locarno Treaties because Britain considers them 100% intact. Any violation of the treaties would receive a military response from the UK. We even mentioned re-negotiating the treaties but all nations would have to be involved, including France. I'm hoping to hear your thoughts on the matter."
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Sir George said, "but this involves foreign policy and I have received no instructions from the Foreign office."
"That is because the Foreign Office is not involved and if you need clarification don't use the phone or send a telegram; they are not secure. Send a courier or visit the Foreign Office personally. If the Germans breach the Locarno Treaty it is no longer a foreign policy issue. It becomes a defence policy issue and that's the MoD in Britain.
Mr. President, as far as Britain is concerned the Locarno Treaties are non-negotiable. We just gave the Germans some misleading information to keep them busy. I'll be visiting Admiral Canaris in Berlin on my way home so I hope to hear an informal response from him. My question earlier referred to your thoughts about a British military response. Any military response by France would also be a breach of the treaties unless you apply Article 4. Maybe we could discuss that later, Sir. I believe that Prime Minister Baldwin has invited you to London?"
"Yes, he has but I haven't decided on a date yet. How long can you stay in France?"
"I intend flying to Brussels tomorrow evening but I can return to Paris before flying to Italy."
"Good. Let's adjourn this meeting. How would you like a cognac?"
"I'd welcome one, Sir. General Gamelin, is 09:00 too early for you?"
"No. That'll be fine."
"Sir George, could you entertain Sally until I return to Hôtel de Charost?"
"Of course, I'd be delighted."
After farewells the PM led COL de Gaulle and I to a small lounge. General Gamelin joined us. This will be fun.

[Diarist]

"You have requested to speak to me alone, Sir Robert."
"No disrespect meant, General, but you are not alone, Mr. President."
He showed me Winston's letter. "I believe you have discretionary powers."
"I wasn't told that, Sir. Good, welcome to the club, General Gamelin. With you three only seven people will know this plan. Nobody else needs to know, Sir."
"It won't go beyond these four walls. You have my word."
"Good. The problem is what to do if Germany enters the Rhineland or attacks a neighbour. While the latter is unlikely the former is a distinct possibility. By occupying the Rhineland Hitler would have greater freedom in the East and we would have fewer options. I also believe that the recent election victories have given our governments a mandate to continue our firm policies against the dictatorships that threaten the peace and our Empires. In London were are formulating a plan to stop Hitler without a shot being fired, but it needs French support and Germany might be stupid enough to fire the first shot." I paused and drank some of the excellent cognac.
"I'm listening. Please proceed."
"The biggest problem is that neither Britain nor Italy have a common border with Germany. Italy could mass a few divisions and a few squadrons of aircraft at the Brenner Pass as Mussolini did last year just like Britain could move the Home Fleet nearer to German shores but none of this would happen before Germany would have already completed their occupation nor would it prevent Hitler achieving his goal. If Germany invaded the Rhineland and Britain were to inform France that it is reacting and is asking France for support then France could intervene without breaching the treaties."
"What French intervention do you envisage?"
"That is where Colonel de Gaulle enters the plan. In addition to the mission mentioned earlier this afternoon he also draws up a contingency plan to use the 1st Motorized Division as a spearhead for the occupation of the Saar before German troops arrive there. That will give us a bargaining card to force Hitler out of the Rhineland or if he orders his troops to open fire then we shall crush his fledgling forces. That part is still in the planning phase but we would like to hear your opinion. We believe however that the German military would oppose an act of aggression against France and force Hitler to back down and that would be the end of Hitler. Supplement that with a rigorous economic embargo and the German people would demand Hitler's departure, they are suffering enough already."
"An ambitious plan I must admit."
"Could you move forces fast enough? It would require units being on alert for an immediate move if ordered to do so. What do you think, Charles? It's similar to the Italian campaign's opening move."
"It could be done but we would need to be certain that the Germans are really entering the Rhineland."
"A premature move on our part would be disastrous," Daladier commented. "What moves are planned by British forces?"
"Nothing has been presented to Winston yet, my people are still formulating a plan. We would like to move a bomber wing and a fighter wing of the RAF to the Metz area as a demonstration of force and solidarity with France." Daladier nodded. "If no shots have been fired both you and Stanley Baldwin present Germany an ultimatum in a radio address. 'You have 48 hours to get out of the Rhineland or we are at war.' Again, we believe the German generals would pressure Hitler to back down. My favourite option is not to wait the 48 hours. If in the first 12 hours there are no signs of a German withdrawal the Royal Navy pulverizes their navy and shipyards at first light the very next morning while our combined air forces attack the Luftwaffe and their bases. The Maginot line artillery barrages any target in range. We then go on the defensive but engage targets of opportunity and wait for Hitler to be toppled. At the moment Germany is not prepared for war and can be defeated. There is a window open but it is closing slowly but surely."
"I'd like time to consider this. Can we borrow Colonel de Gaulle?"
"Of course you can but he is hearing this for the first time too. Do we still have an appointment tomorrow morning, General?"
"We could have a working breakfast, and lunch, if you wish."
"Agreed. Then 08:00. I'm hungry in the morning. Maybe we could visit one of you army units for breakfast."
"A good idea."
I said farewell then I was driven to the Hôtel de Charost.