851.01/164: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 29—4:50 a.m.]
137. For the confidential information of Department. Information received from various sources indicates that De Gaulle movement here is not strong enough to declare by itself for Free France but if support in the form of British battleships, varied according to importance of locality, was to present itself before all North African ports including Morocco coup d’état supported by eventually local air, army and doubtfully naval forces might be possible if leaders previously informed when ships would appear.
Recent information from the southern territories reports considerable passive disaffection.