740.0011 European War 1939/8097: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 4—1:15 a.m.]
150. Monsieur Flandin35 informed me today that he has received word from Weygand that Murphy has sent him a message that the Department is envisaging sending him back to Algeria to resume negotiations on economic matters. Monsieur Flandin said that while the Vichy Government is anxious to carry on such negotiations, looking towards the supplying of North Africa, with this Embassy the return of Murphy to that area would be very unfortunate in view of the present critical situation of the Vichy Government. It would be interpreted, he said, by Wiesbaden as an indication that there is in fact a separation between North Africa and Vichy with all its implication. He added that at this time when the Germans are bringing great pressure, which the French are resisting, to send control commissions to North Africa, the return of Murphy would greatly weaken the French arguments.
- Pierre Étienne Flandin, French Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩