740.0011 European War 1939/11199: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 22—11:30 a.m.]
207. For the Under Secretary from Murphy. General Weygand received me last evening. I gave him a brief résumé of the developments at Washington regarding the plan of economic cooperation with French North Africa telling him that there was under considertion at my departure the possibility of extension of the plan to French West Africa. He expressed his thanks to the President and the Department for their sympathetic interest in his present responsibility.
I then referred to the President’s statement of May 1584a regarding our relations with France, giving Weygand a copy. He had already read the text in a news bulletin. I said that it would be obvious to him that my Government would no longer be interested in the plan of economic assistance if the situation in French Africa were no longer intact, and especially if the Government at Vichy had entered into any agreement with Germany impairing the French African situation in a fashion similar to that of Syria.
[Page 345]General Weygand said that he was glad to assure me most solemnly that the French African situation was not directly affected by whatever agreements Vichy may have made in connection with Syria or otherwise; that if it was affected he would be prompt to inform us of any change.
I asked for his comment on the several stories to the effect that Tunisia is being used as a base of military operations by the Germans and Italians. General Weygand denied emphatically that German and/or Italian planes were permitted to land and refuel, that troops were allowed passage, that fuel deliveries were made, etc.
He said that the fantastic length to which these stories go is best illustrated by the British airman who, landing on Tunisian soil where he was met by French police, expressed great surprise to find French officials, as he thought Tunisia was occupied by the Germans.
According to Weygand’s present information the Germans have only 2 full divisions in Libya. Only 1 brigade of each division is armored with an estimated total of 500 tanks approximately.
I found Weygand not at all discouraged or dismayed by the present military situation but I can safely say that he is unhappy over the political trend in France.
He gave me opportunity to suggest that there had been some informal discussion of the question, should there be a major violation of the Armistice Convention by Germany, such as the occupation of all of France and should the Marechal and he find no other recourse but to resume hostilities, whether in his opinion a call would be made for American aid. He replied dryly that from the trend of things at Vichy such an eventuality would hardly arise. He added that for the moment all he could say is that his policy is that of Marshal Pétain, and that he would do his best to defend French Africa against aggression.
I am certain from my conversations with him and two other key officials here that Weygand has given no subordinate express or tacit authorization to discuss the question of military aid. I also learned in this connection of comment attributed to Weygand to the effect that almost anything told to Americans usually appeared in the newspapers within 48 hours.
Weygand declared that he had met with some success in vigorously opposing German infiltration into French North Africa. He said there is no German infiltration into Dakar or French West Africa. He deplored the presence of 185 German Armistice personnel in French Morocco but said that urgent measures were being taken to stop German propaganda effort among the natives. He declared that the stories regarding hundreds of German tourists and businessmen arriving here are simply untrue.
[Page 346]The General seemed favorably impressed with the small amount of information I was able to give him regarding our national defense effort and our production of military and naval equipment. I am convinced that we should do more to inform the French army and naval officials in French Africa of the volume of our production and activity.
We discussed the western Mediterranean. Weygand does not believe there is imminent a German or combined Hispano-German military operation directed against Gibraltar and French Morocco. He believes the Germans must concentrate on the eastern Mediterranean.
I mentioned to the General, for his personal information only, the personal and unofficial idea of a friend regarding Freetown and Bathurst. It made, I thought, an excellent impression.
My conclusion is that we are justified in proceeding with the economic plan. Its discontinuance at this time, added to their acute depression over the political trend at Vichy, would discourage our friends and greatly reinforce the element which has continuously argued that it is foolish to look for practical cooperation anywhere except Germany.
What is the status of the Ile de Noir-Moutier?85
Repeated to Vichy. [Murphy.]