The Wehrmacht continues its southward push down the Atlantic coast. In the morning it has reached Rochefort and Royan, poured into Poitiers and swept on toward Angoulême. Farther east it has left Iddoudun and Châteauroux behind, but has not yet crossed the Creuse. In the upper Loire valley there is serious fighting in the area northwest of Saint-Étienne, at the Fouillouse dam.

Gen Georges once again draws the Commander-in-Chief's attention to the dire effects of the government's decision to declare all centers of more than 20,000 inhabitants 'open towns'. This decision is paralyzing defense and leading to daily conflicts between combatants and the civilian population. Gen Olry, too, protests against the failure to destroy the bridges in Lyons, which has enabled the Germans to sweep rapidly down the Rhône valley.

'I cannot be expected to forfeit my honor by sacrificing my army,' he says.

In addition, the arrival of the German armor in the Gironde estuary presents the French High Command with yet another problem. With the consent of the German Command, the area round Bordeaux has been demilitarized in order to safeguard the independence of the French govenment. This entails the risk of the enemy's swinging rapidly southeastward toward Marmande and Agen, thereby further compromising the withdrawal of what little remained of the 3rd Group of Armies.

A force of 5 German divisions tries to cross the Isère at Voreppe, where there is a bend in the river. The gap is defended by sailors using anti-tank batteries and by the gunners of the 2nd Group of the 104th Artillery Regiment under Maj Azais de Vergeron. The Germans are driven back. Behind them they leave artillery batteries, three heavy tanks and lines of vehicles. They have set fire to petrol stations beyond Voiron.

In the Alps the Italians again return to the attack. Even though they have brought up considerable reinforcements they are no more successful than the day before. Late in the day they manage to capture Menton, but are unable to fight their way out of the town on the other side, being caught in heavy fire from the French strong-point at Cap-Martin, which remains undamaged.

Adm Darlan sends the following telegram to Adm Godfroy, commander of Force X in Alexandria:

05123   June 23rd, 1940, 5 p.m.

If armistice agreement is signed between France, on the one side, and Germany and Italy, on the other, you will cease all operations or acts of hostility and assemble in a French port that I shall announce to you, provisionally Bizerta. Stop. Acknowledge recept.

That same day Adm Sir Andrew Cunningham, C-in-C, Naval Forces in the Eastern Mediterranean, writes to Adm Godfroy (in French):

My heart is wrung with sympathy for your country, my dear Admiral, and if there is anything I can do to ease your position I hope you will ask me.

Adm Godfroy is in a very delicate situation. His ships are based in Alexandria, a British port. He is under orders to, and constant surveillance by, a British admiral with whom he is on the friendliest terms. Not for one moment, however, does he think of responding to Gen de Gaulle's appeals.

Meanwhile, the news from Britain is far from comforting. There is talk in London of siezing all French shipping (and shipping chartered by France) in British ports or at sea, and of completely blockading the French coasts.

At 9:10am Adm Oden'hal, head of the naval mission in London, sends this wire to the French Admiralty:

No. 1321   June 23rd, 1940

British government still unfamiliar with wording of naval clauses signed. Fully familiar only with original German wording communicated by its ambassador. Is afraid of seeing our fleet, once disarmed, fall into enemy hands and used against it. Can you instruct me?

At 3:30pm the French Admiralty replies:

No. 5145   June 23rd, 1940

All provisions accepted are conditioned by the fact thet the French fleet will definitely remain French, under the French flag, in French ports, with French skeleton crews. Stop. These conditions do not endanger British interests. Stop. On the other hand, the attitude of the British authorities that you report can only be viewed as unfriendly. Stop. Insist that measures contemplated are hastily called off.

The first shipload of American arms reaches England on board the Eastern Prince.

Adm Darlan gives orders for the Béarn, carrying about a hundred American planes, to be diverted to the West Indies.