Would France send a battleship east?

Could France be persuaded to send one of its newer battleships to the Far East?

Possibly. At least one French battleship could accompany the force, although French capital ships may be more useful covering the Mediterranean while British units move east.

Coalition strength can be divided between the Far East and Europe in different ways. France might add a modern battleship directly to the Allied battle line. The alternative is to leave French capital ships in the Mediterranean, where they could cover commitments vacated by the Royal Navy. At least one French battleship may accompany the fleet, although the point remains uncertain. French support could free British ships for the Far East even if the French squadron itself stayed closer to Europe.