An idea about alliance   thinking back to the assurance vs guarantees point we might have a similar problem about the notion of alliance From what you write I gather that you understand ally as fighting together you would not say that the USA and UK were allies in  am I correct on the other hand I understand ally as part of a legal contract between two nations and since nothing indicates that such a contract was broken before the rd of July  I regard France and the UK as allies at this point even though France had signed armistices with Italy and Germany  Maybe we could find a wording that would satisfy everybody by giving a few more details I would suggest qualifying France of defeated ally or powerless ally but of course I am starting from the allianceaslegalcontract point of view Is there a formulation that springs to your mind