Post by Diarist on Jan 6, 2017 21:51:50 GMT 1
Everything went smoothly this afternoon. We took off at 12:50 and landed without incident at Le Touquet at 15:25 local time (GMT+1). We were met by Generals Gamelin and Huntziger who were waiting with three cars. John Simon and I rode with General Gamelin; LG Howard and COL O'Connor with General Huntziger while George, Irvine and Bron were in the third car. We were driven to a guest house near Saint-Cyr. John Simon and I had given General Gamelin our accreditations with letters for PM (and DM) Daladier informing him that John and I are authorized to sign an agreement on behalf of the British government.
"So this is nothing to do with Germany and the Versailles meeting?" he asked.
"No, that will be 3-4 weeks from now. May I suggest that we exchange documents a week before Versailles so that we have time to study each others' proposals?"
"I would prefer that too. When will COL de Gaulle be transferring to France?"
"I'm not sure exactly but I can imagine that it will be in the next week or so. Is the 1st Motorized Division already being transferred to Metz?"
"Yes it is. We haven't decided what to do with the third motorized brigade. We only need two for the armoured division."
"I would transfer it there too because of the 1st Armoured's 'secret' mission. One can't have too many troops, Sir. Also it will take a while to organize the armoured division, possibly a year." We were in a large dining room and there is a serving area. I selected a large entrecote with sauté and broccoli as well as an excellent sauce lyonnaise. General Gamelin recommended a 1932 Burgund. We sat with Generals Huntziger and Howard. They had the same red wine.
"I hear that you are the architect of these plans, Sir Robert." General Huntziger opened.
"Not exactly, General. I was in Palestine earlier this month on a fact-finding mission and the proposals are greatly influenced by my reports and recommendations. At Chequers last weekend PM Daladier welcomed greater Anglo-French cooperation in the Middle, Near and Far East. These proposals have stemmed from that meeting. How volatile is the situation in Damascus? Do you see a similarity with Iraq a dozen years ago?"
"Nothing we can't handle and yes, there are similarities but differences too. I believe that your proposals are too lenient."
"Au contraire. Give them what they want and afterwards they'll quickly realize that it's not what they wanted. But it will be too late and their only potential ally is Iraq. We gave them what they wanted but then they realized that they are still very dependent upon Britain just like an independent Syria would still be very dependent on France."
"And Britain gets Golan?"
"Syria loses Golan. Does it really matter to who? You have the mountains separating Lebanon from Syria. The Golan Heights would be Palestine's defence zone."
"What do we get in return for Golan?"
"A reliable ally and one less problem to worry about."
"Well it doesn't appear to be a fair exchange as far as I am concerned."
"General, this not a question of territorial gain. Both our nations inherited a problem in the Middle East. We should work together to solve the problem. After all, Germany is a much bigger problem for France than it is for England and our support against Germany is at least a 10,000 times more valuable than Golan." Édouard Daladier joined us before General Huntziger could answer.
"Good evening, gentlemen. You are General Howard?"
"Yes, Sir. Good evening, Mr. Prime Minister."
"Sir Robert, I like the Syrian proposal but isn't it rushing things a little?"
"The time is your decision, Sir. We would be grateful though if the Circassian Battalion were transferred to Golan."
"Is that possible, Charles (Huntziger)?"
"It is, Sir. In fact, most of it is already stationed there."
"Sir, we are only proposing an agreement, a secret agreement. You don't have to actually do anything at the moment."
"Give Syria their independence but take away the states wanting autonomy. Give them to Lebanon as autonomous states within the French Protectorate of Greater Lebanon except Golan which goes to Palestine. What about the Kurds?"
"Give it to Iraq. Iraq is the only potential ally of an independent Syria. That would quickly sour the relationship."
"Yes, it would."
"I really don't believe that we need to do this, Sir. My forces can deal with the situation."
"I realize that, Charles. But I want the Circassian Battalion in Golan to block Syrians trying to infiltrate into Palestine."
"Yes, Sir."
"Sir Robert, General Howard. I will sign an agreement supporting your proposals but the Republic of France alone determines when to implement the agreement, if at all."
"That is acceptable if the United Kingdom is allowed to suggest an appropriate moment, should it arise."
"Of course."
Another round of Cognac followed and since the meeting tomorrow morning will be just a formality we shall be at home in the evening.
"So this is nothing to do with Germany and the Versailles meeting?" he asked.
"No, that will be 3-4 weeks from now. May I suggest that we exchange documents a week before Versailles so that we have time to study each others' proposals?"
"I would prefer that too. When will COL de Gaulle be transferring to France?"
"I'm not sure exactly but I can imagine that it will be in the next week or so. Is the 1st Motorized Division already being transferred to Metz?"
"Yes it is. We haven't decided what to do with the third motorized brigade. We only need two for the armoured division."
"I would transfer it there too because of the 1st Armoured's 'secret' mission. One can't have too many troops, Sir. Also it will take a while to organize the armoured division, possibly a year." We were in a large dining room and there is a serving area. I selected a large entrecote with sauté and broccoli as well as an excellent sauce lyonnaise. General Gamelin recommended a 1932 Burgund. We sat with Generals Huntziger and Howard. They had the same red wine.
"I hear that you are the architect of these plans, Sir Robert." General Huntziger opened.
"Not exactly, General. I was in Palestine earlier this month on a fact-finding mission and the proposals are greatly influenced by my reports and recommendations. At Chequers last weekend PM Daladier welcomed greater Anglo-French cooperation in the Middle, Near and Far East. These proposals have stemmed from that meeting. How volatile is the situation in Damascus? Do you see a similarity with Iraq a dozen years ago?"
"Nothing we can't handle and yes, there are similarities but differences too. I believe that your proposals are too lenient."
"Au contraire. Give them what they want and afterwards they'll quickly realize that it's not what they wanted. But it will be too late and their only potential ally is Iraq. We gave them what they wanted but then they realized that they are still very dependent upon Britain just like an independent Syria would still be very dependent on France."
"And Britain gets Golan?"
"Syria loses Golan. Does it really matter to who? You have the mountains separating Lebanon from Syria. The Golan Heights would be Palestine's defence zone."
"What do we get in return for Golan?"
"A reliable ally and one less problem to worry about."
"Well it doesn't appear to be a fair exchange as far as I am concerned."
"General, this not a question of territorial gain. Both our nations inherited a problem in the Middle East. We should work together to solve the problem. After all, Germany is a much bigger problem for France than it is for England and our support against Germany is at least a 10,000 times more valuable than Golan." Édouard Daladier joined us before General Huntziger could answer.
"Good evening, gentlemen. You are General Howard?"
"Yes, Sir. Good evening, Mr. Prime Minister."
"Sir Robert, I like the Syrian proposal but isn't it rushing things a little?"
"The time is your decision, Sir. We would be grateful though if the Circassian Battalion were transferred to Golan."
"Is that possible, Charles (Huntziger)?"
"It is, Sir. In fact, most of it is already stationed there."
"Sir, we are only proposing an agreement, a secret agreement. You don't have to actually do anything at the moment."
"Give Syria their independence but take away the states wanting autonomy. Give them to Lebanon as autonomous states within the French Protectorate of Greater Lebanon except Golan which goes to Palestine. What about the Kurds?"
"Give it to Iraq. Iraq is the only potential ally of an independent Syria. That would quickly sour the relationship."
"Yes, it would."
"I really don't believe that we need to do this, Sir. My forces can deal with the situation."
"I realize that, Charles. But I want the Circassian Battalion in Golan to block Syrians trying to infiltrate into Palestine."
"Yes, Sir."
"Sir Robert, General Howard. I will sign an agreement supporting your proposals but the Republic of France alone determines when to implement the agreement, if at all."
"That is acceptable if the United Kingdom is allowed to suggest an appropriate moment, should it arise."
"Of course."
Another round of Cognac followed and since the meeting tomorrow morning will be just a formality we shall be at home in the evening.