740.0011 European War 1939/11739: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:40 p.m.]
230. From Murphy. Weygand’s aide told me last evening that High Commissioner Boisson had given Weygand able support at Vichy. Boisson, he said, told both the Marshal and Darlan that having defended Dakar against the British last September he, Boisson, had no intention of letting Dakar fall into German hands; that he would fight them if they came and that the Germans would be a very long time taking French West Africa if they dared to try it.
My informant said “It is amusing that Boisson, who has been maligned continuously by the British radio, nevertheless should tell the Marshal that he believed that Britain with American aid could not lose the war.”
Repeated to Vichy for repetition to Casablanca and Tangier. [Murphy.]