When France signed an armistice with Germany in 1940 they only agreed that Vichy France (unoccupied France) was to be a neutral country. While France was officially neutral there were many competing factors which kept the situation very fluid.

France was under pressure from the British to honor its agreement with Britain that what was left of its fleet would not fall into German hands. The main ships in question were two battleships that were anchored in French African ports.

France was under pressure from the United States to make sure that those battleships did not enter the war.

France was under pressure from Germany to be more cooperative with them and they offered territorial gains for France if they would cooperate. While some in the French government were open to an alliance with Germany the fact was that the French people were pro-Allies and unlikely to actually fight against the British.

(Book – The Second Work War – Winston S. Churchill)