11th December, 1041.
Ky dear Welles,
I have Just had a tolegras from the Foreign Office
in which they wish the Stato Oepartment to bo informed for
their secret and confidential information of the following:-
His "ajesty's Government have learnt from several
independent sources in confirmation of previous reports that
Vichy has agreed to hand over Horth African bases to the
Remans and has alsp agreed to certain arrangements for
transport of German troops.
Their information, which is fairly extensive, goes
to show that Hitler is very probably contemplating large scale
operations in the Vediterranean.     The plan is believod to
Include a request to the Spanish Government for permission
for the passage of important contingents of German troops and
also of v/ar material across Spain to North Africa as well as
a sea borne expedition to Oran from Marseilles.
His Majesty's Government believe the \ichy Government
to have acquiosced in these arrangements, but have no firm
information about the attitude of the Spanish Bovernment.
Yours very sincerely,