Clear telegram from the Department of External Affairs to
Seán Murphy (Vichy)
(No. 645)

My telegram 635¹ garbled en route contained full information namely French Minister had published fact that he was accepting instructions from North Africa. He said nothing about staff. We asked you try persuade Foreign Office to let things be and avoid scandal French quarrel here. Action by Vichy can only give wide publicity to an extremely unimportant incident in a small country. Minister statement which made no reference to Vichy leaves things much as they were and does not oblige us to take any action. Please telegraph reaction.