740.00112 European War 1939/2772: Telegram

The Chargé at Tangier ( Childs ) to the Secretary of State

180. I had another long talk yesterday concerning economic aid to French North Africa with Gascoigne,88a the British representative here.

He said “We do not wish another situation developing here as in Syria”.

I pointed out that the two situations were not analogous, that our policy of economic aid was designed to prevent what was happening in Syria. I added that there was such a thing as pushing people to desperation and that if in nothing else we had a great deal to gain by the presence of American observers in North Africa.

He admitted this but then interposed the argument that the French were not to be trusted, that he was convinced the French had embarked upon a policy of collaboration with Germany from which they were not to be deflected. He did not think an opportunity should be given the French to accumulate goods in North Africa which the Germans would be sure to take.

I said that I did not agree with his premises and that besides nobody as far as I knew was advocating the sending of large stocks from the United States but only enough to keep the economic wheels moving from one short period to another.

He said that what was wanted were firm guarantees from Weygand. I raised the question whether it was possible to offer firm guarantees in return.

I said I thought this argument moved in a vicious circle: He spoke of having no trust in Weygand and Noguès and yet wanted guarantees. The best of guarantees would be worthless in the absence of good faith. Did he mean to suggest that Weygand was playing a double game? He repudiated this suggestion when I pressed him for an answer.

He then referred to the fact that Weygand was very anti-British. I said I thought the question was not a fundamental one whether he was anti-British or pro-British but it was important to establish a community of interest with him with a view to reaching the same common objective towards which we all were striving.

Our conversation was never acrimonious but it was very frank. I left him with the assurance pressed upon me by him that our views were not so divergent as I might have supposed.

Childs
  1. A. D. F. Gascoigne, British Consul General at Tangier.