Your telegram 242 of 28th May. [1]

The following appreciation deals with the points raised. There is
no reason to assume that anything is radically wrong with the
French Army. The recent break-through was the result of faulty
tactical dispositions, including the posting of troops not of the
highest standard at the crucial area where the Maginot Line proper
terminated and defensive zone began. The troops in question did
not fight as well as the best units of the French Army but there
is no reason to doubt the morale in general of the French Army. It
is, however, the case that the very heavy scale of tank attack
with heavy air support came as a tactical surprise and caused
temporary loss of morale where it occurred.

As regards your point (1) you will have seen from my telegram 172
today [2] that according to the latest information we could not
regard the French collapse as other than a possibility. We
understand that the French Army will fight on the line of the
Rivers Somme and Aisne and are informed that they would continue
to fight even if this line were broken. We have given the French
Government full assurance of our determination to stand by them to
the end and that we expect them to do the same by us. There is no
reason to suppose the existence of any moral or psychological
factors having materially undermined the fighting spirit of the
French Army or the French population.

As regards point (2) it is impossible to forecast the nature which
a French collapse would take, should it occur. The situation which
we are particularly examining is the worst case, namely, your
hypothesis (a). We agree that the entry of Italy into the war
against us appears inevitable. Even in this case, we have every
intention of maintaining the security of our vital interests in
the Near East and of course in the Far East. In the event of any
French collapse less complete than (a), the difficulty of
maintaining our security in the Near East would be reduced.

As regards point (3), we entirely agree with the view expressed in
your telegram as to the mode of public presentation and we are
already taking steps with a view to the matter being dealt with as
you suggest.

In conclusion, we should like to emphasize the importance that in
all public and official references to recent events, anything in
the nature of recrimination against the French should be avoided.

The French and British interests stand together today as much as
ever and the solidarity of the alliance remains a very important
factor in the successful prosecution of the war.

I should like to stress the extreme importance of the strictest
secrecy in regard to the contents of this telegram and my
immediately succeeding telegram.