Director of the center of studies and second in command of the "École navale" at Brest in 1933, he served then in the cabinet of François Piétri, minister of the Navy () (1934–1935), then commanded the cruiser "Émile-Bertin" in squadron in the Atlantic. Capitaine de Vaisseau in October 1936, he received in October 1937 the command of the "Jean-d'Arc" and the application school of the "enseignes de vaisseau" with whom he conducted a tour around the world (1937–1938) and a second campaign in the Atlantic and the Pacific. He exercised the functions of military governor of Polynesia (1938–1939). He was accordingly assigned to studies section of the État-Major general. In anticipation of the war which was expected, he was sent to London to coordinate future operations with the Royal Navy. He held his own views regarding the evacuation at Dunkirk or by Operation Catapult.