740.0011 European War 1939/7711: Telegram

The Minister in Portugal ( Pell ) to the Secretary of State

19. For the Under Secretary from Murphy. General Weygand told me that one of the greatest handicaps he had to overcome in his effort to organize French Africa is a certain type of broadcast over British and American networks. He gave me a compilation of several [Page 214] broadcasts and I think it well to quote two or three to illustrate the point:

“London, December 18, 7:20 G. M. T. In French. Pétain will not leave France but certain of his collaborators can find refuge in North Africa under the authority of General Weygand. The latter openly regrets having stopped fighting so soon and having been deceived by reports to the effect that a revolution was imminent in France.”

“Boston, December 19, 8 p.m., G.M.T. In French. When [What?] will General Weygand say? From present indications Oudry, representing Free France in the United States, declares that he has no doubt that North Africa will resist.[”]

“London 9 [apparent omission] In English. In the event of the occupation of French ports by the Germans, North Africa will arise against such a state of affairs. General Weygand is actively consolidating the position of France in the colonies.”

General Weygand said that he would be most grateful for any influence the Department might bring to bear on the subject of radio broadcasts. He would be the happiest man in the world if his name would never be mentioned; almost every time it is mentioned there is a back-fire from the Germans thus rendering his task doubly difficult. As I reported in another telegram the Germans asked for his recall in December. General Weygand realizes, of course, that there is freedom of the press and radio in the United States but he thought that it might be possible to suggest to the British Embassy in Washington that the British censor is doing their cause more harm than good in permitting the use of General Weygand’s name in such broadcasts, and in effect continually warning Germany that French Africa is preparing to fight Germany. [Murphy.]

Pell