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Looking at a few things in Shirer's book and also Werth's, it is clear that France was trying to delay its declaration of war and maybe wiggle out of it.

The last days in August saw a British hardening of attitude whereas France was backsliding.

Even after 1 September, France still wanted to explore Italy's peaced conference, which was dead as a doughnout.

Bonnet claimed he had giving Mussolini his word on a delay of 48 hours and that was 2 September.

Even the last communication to Germany still did not say "war".

Bonnet was frantic in his efforts, Daladier, it seems, was not much better.

Halifax told Daladier that if anything, Britain would go it alone, which did not go down well with Daladier.

WHAT IF France wiggles out of it?

1) Could they? fall of French government?
2) BEF deployment?
3) Would it have changed anything?

IF France had not declared war, would Hitler still have invaded in 1940? I think so.

A Churcill quote to put it into perspective: "Britain and France had to choose between war and dishonour. They chose dishonour. They will have war".

Ivan
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