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March 28, 1941 – The note cites seven laws between July 22, 1940 and March 8, 1941 « enacted to deprive from nationality the French who have left their country since the events of June ». It then recalls that the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs « consists of gathering the information sent to it by our agents abroad concerning French people suspected of falling within the scope of these various laws » and « transmitting them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Justice competent to pronounce the forfeiture »,« to give his opinion », and « to keep the Ministry of the Interior informed of requests for the re-entry into France of French people who may fall under one of the laws aforementioned ».

The « Chancelleries and Litigations » sub-directorate asks the Minister’s Office how to examine in the future the many requests from French people wishing to return :

– It suggests granting re-entry visas more easily to « French people who left the territory between May 10 and June 30 in panic due to the circumstances ».

– Case of « French people having taken service in a foreign army. Among the forfeitures pronounced, a certain number hit the leaders of the dissident group : de Gaulle, Catroux, Muselier, etc. What attitude should be adopted with regard to the many French people engaged in British or dissident troops ? ».

– Case of « French people having « betrayed by their acts, speeches or writings the duties incumbent on them as a member of the national community ». This law mainly targets the French rallying to the de Gaulle movement ». « According to reports from our agents, the vast majority of French people abroad, especially in America, appear hostile not only to Germany but to any policy of collaboration with it. As a result, they show sympathy – generally platonic – for the de Gaulle movement, while respecting the personality of the Marshal Head of State. A minority is part of the committees of « Free France ». In most of these committees there are some honest French, veterans of 1914 and who cannot resign themselves to a French defeat. Beside them a number of disreputable people often former deserters or rebellious. Treating each other the same would be true to the letter of the law, but it might be inappropriate because of the effect produced in our colonies abroad ».