Part II - While Churchill's decision was arguably justified - and personally anguishing - based on conditions in July 1940, it poisoned relations with the French and was undoubtedly a factor in the surprisingly vigorous French military response in the next two years - at Dakar, in Syria and North Africa in late 1942 (Operation Torch.)  And while Churchill could not have relied upon it happening, when the Germans did attempt to seize the French fleet in Toulon in November 1942, the French Admirals scuttled 77 ships.