740.0011 European War 1939/5100
The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 13.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my telegram No. 27, June 25, 1940,40 in which I gave the substance of a proclamation by General Noguès which was published in the Algerian press of June 25, 1940. This proclamation ran as follows:
Proclamation of the General Commander in Chief to the Population of North Africa
“The Armistice41 is signed. But the Government in answer to urgent appeals representing the wishes of the whole of North Africa informs me officially that:
- 1.
- There can be no question of abandoning to a foreign power without a conflict the whole or any part of the territories over which we exercise either sovereign power or a protectorate.
- 2.
- The principle of a military occupation of any part of North Africa by a foreign power is rejected.
- 3.
- The Government is not disposed to agree to a reduction of the forces stationed in these territories.
For the moment the integrity of North Africa and its means of defense appears to be assured. In consequence I renew my appeal for calm, discipline, unity, and confidence in the future of our country.
Algiers, June 24, 1940”
Signed: Noguès
Since my despatch No. 542 of June 21, 194040 the question of continuing the resistance in North Africa has been actively discussed. According to the most reliable opinion it could have been undertaken with a reasonable prospect of success, but in view of the attitude of the Pétain42 ministry, no one could be found who would assume the responsibility. The Governor General of Algiers was definitely opposed to it; the declarations of General Noguès, of which a specimen is given [Page 573] above and those of Mr. Peyrouton, Resident General in Tunisia were non-committal. The final blow to certain hopes seems to have been the request made to the British Military Mission for its departure. It left on June 28th, 1940. On June 30th, the task of dismantling the coast defences was reported as in progress, as it was that ammunition was being rendered useless, and the demobilisation ordered of all men down to the age of 25.
The Algerian Governor General appears therefore to have triumphed over any possible opposition to the armistice terms. He has been helped by widespread propaganda based on the anti-British speeches of Marshal Pétain and on rumors spread by certain army officers as to the deficiencies in military equipment. The reaction to this cold douche is provided by subtle hints of a sudden and beneficial change in relations with Italy with corresponding disadvantages for the now detested England and Germany. It is certain that emissaries (Parliamentary and military) have been sent over from France to cover Algeria and Tunisia. These facts correspond with the desperate and otherwise inexplicable efforts of the Pétain Government to cut loose from England and the recent addition of Mr. Pierre Laval to the Ministry. A large percentage of the public is already imbued with this idea, chiefly, it may be surmised, because it provides ground for hope, though the whole project has the appearance of a “Combinazione” and France has yet to get the better of Italy in a Mediterranean deal.
Great progress has thus been made in getting the Algerians to acquiesce in the armistice conditions; but the idea of resistance is not at this writing completely abandoned nor is England without its indignant supporters. Many hundreds of men have sought ways and means of joining the small remnant of French combatants. In fact, as I stated in my last despatch on this subject, only continued resistance of Africa would have been the certain antidote to civil war. Frenchmen are now thoroughly disunited with the lines of cleavage running athwart the old political parties. The Pétain Government is bound to meet the hostility of the masses and is doomed unless it can rule by despotic measures backed by German authority.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩
- Armistice agreement between France and Germany, June 22, 1940, and between France and Italy, June 24, 1940. For texts, see Documents on American Foreign Relations, July 1939–June 1940, vol. ii, pp. 427 and 436, respectively. For text of the Franco-German agreement, see also Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918–1945, series D, vol. ix, document No. 523, p. 671.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Henri Philippe Pétain, French Prèmier; subsequently Chief of State.↩