MOST IMMEDIATE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER
Press report Mussolini in speech this afternoon stated
declarations of war against the United Kingdom and France had been
handed to the British and French Ambassadors. [1] No official
confirmation yet received. [2]
BRUCE
1 Sir Percy Loraine and Andre Francois-Poncet.
2 This information was also received in U.K. Dominions Secretary's
cablegram C37 dispatched at 7.05 p.m. on 10 June 1940 (on file AA:
A1608, M41/1/1). The Commonwealth Government had previously been
warned that war was possible within 48 hours in U.K. Dominions
Secretary's cablegram D241, dispatched at 4.20 a.m. on 9 June 1940
(on file AA: A1608, H41/1/4, ii).
