Impression growing next German move will be against French. Grave
doubts as to French capacity to hold Somme line which in many
places very thinly held. They have formally asked for three
British divisions immediately and strongly request air assistance.

War Cabinet deciding tomorrow what can be agreed on as to the
necessity of giving maximum possible support from point of view of
French morale being cracked.

Italy. Has been decided to hold up large number of Italian ships
arriving at Gibraltar and Aden in the course of the next few days
with valuable cargoes of war material as felt that if Mussolini
has decided on war essential cargoes should not be received; if he
has not decided unlikely that action will provoke more than strong
protest.

BRUCE