Uncertainty about French navy and uneasiness as to what lies ahead
British navy is causing discussion in high quarters here about
advisability of transferring some part at least of United States
navy from Pacific to the Atlantic. I have argued in two relevant
quarters here that it is extremely unlikely that any situation
could arise in European waters that would result in net balance of
hostile naval forces over Allied, which is the only situation
carrying menace in the Atlantic. They do not argue strongly
against this but continue to display uneasiness. They also believe
that their fleet being where it is leaves their vital Panama Canal
inadequately guarded.

State Department has no information regarding the Far East other
than that considerable preoccupation in Japan over Indo-China. [1]

CASEY