740.0011 European War 1939/13613: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:10 p.m.]
378. Personal for the Acting Secretary from Murphy. Your 184, July 17, 10 p.m. For the past 10 days I have received disquieting reports that the tide at Vichy is running rapidly in the direction of concessions to the Germans in French Africa. In the past 2 days from reliable members of Weygand’s staff I hear that important changes are imminent in the Government at Vichy which thereafter will go all out in support of the German program and a reliable official just returned last evening from Vichy states that the trend there is unmistakable. General Odic, commanding the Air Forces in French Africa, also shares that view. He even expresses the opinion that things have already gone so far that there is no middle course regarding the Atlantic bases; he says they will be either German controlled or Anglo-American controlled.
Our friends tell me that at Vichy, with some of the key men, it is no longer a question of freedom from the German yoke. The problem is translated by them into a question of their own selfish careers and the commitments they have made to the policy of Franco-German cooperation. They see in an Allied victory nothing for themselves but ruin. The Germans on the other hand have promised them brilliant careers in the new European order. My contacts, who several months ago had the utmost respect for Marshal Pétain, now frankly discount his waning power.
I have been urged almost daily since my 338, July 21, 5 p.m., by one of Weygand’s aides, who enjoys his close confidence, to persuade you to expedite any comment you might see fit to make or any information the President might care to transmit to Weygand regarding any program of military assistance which might be forthcoming should the General be faced with a threat of German aggression. He tells me that Weygand is developing the conviction that Vichy now simply operates under German domination and controls; that in reality the Marshal has no freedom of action. Under such circumstances if the General can be brought to believe that the African trump, which is the last France has, can be played with a chance of winning, he will feel justified in taking responsibility.
In my letter to you of July 1562 I suggested that the mere information that the President had under study a program of military assistance for Weygand would hearten him enormously. I also said [Page 407] that if you were in position to inform him of the volume of such assistance which would be available and the minimum time required for the arrival of the initial supplies this should only be done if the quantities of material were really substantial.
His closest associates assure me that Weygand has never wavered in his determination to obstruct German control of this area. I know he is delighted with the way things are going in Russia and Libya.
Several weeks ago he believed he would be faced with a major crisis in September or October. Now some of his close associates believe that such a crisis may well happen this month. They urge me to suggest to you that encouraging and specific data regarding the volume of any available military assistance be conveyed to the General without delay. I feel that Weygand should know that if he gives the signal certain quantities of material would be available within a given time limit.
Repeated to Vichy. [Murphy.]
- Not found in Department files.↩