740.00/6471: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 22—8:25 a.m.]
383. Personal for the Secretary. My 370, March 20, 5 p.m.53 Halifax told me last night that he understands the Germans are mobilizing 20 divisions on the western front. He also said that Poland’s answer to France is very unsatisfactory. The British have not yet received an answer. The British feel that Russia may go along with them, not to serve the general cause but to serve whatever purpose they have in mind and if they do agree to go along with the French and the English, and if Rumania and Turkey and the Balkan States are prepared to fight, then England is advising France that they should both go along regardless of Poland.
The plan is that the fleet would start an immediate blockade. The French would start to attack on their own borders and England would send over as many planes as they could to help France. Lebrun54 told Halifax that the language Mussolini used to a very close friend of his regarding Hitler was not fit to repeat.
Halifax made one suggestion last night. He said that in 1936, when the trouble was on with Italy, Great Britain had promised Australia that, in the event of any trouble, they would send a fleet to Singapore. Under present conditions they do not feel they can spare a fleet for Singapore and they wonder if the United States would consider, at the psychological moment, transferring the American fleet back to the Pacific—to Honolulu—or some place else. This would be perfectly satisfactory to Australia and would permit the British Navy to function in the Mediterranean, where they plan to start operations. Lord Chatfield55 saw me for a few minutes afterwards and also said that this was psychologically important if it was at all possible to be done.