740.00112 European War 1939/3249: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 26—4:45 p.m.]
1088. Murphy’s telegram 413, August 16, 12 midnight, from Algiers and Department’s 238, August 7, 10 p.m., to Murphy at Casablanca.73 We are told by a high official of the Finance Ministry and a representative of the Economic Division of the Armistice Commission in whom we have full confidence that the Germans have now made suggestions that they too would like to supply French North Africa with certain goods that it needs. The list thereof would include certain types of machinery and cotton textiles. In return they would hope to receive North African products, particularly minerals. The French, they said, have merely told the Germans that they would study the question.
This German move our informants attribute to anxiety at the moral effect of our program of supplying North Africa and its great success. The Germans feel, said our informants, that the growing appreciation, especially on the part of the natives, of what our help means to that area may seriously affect such designs and aspirations as they themselves may have there.
Repeated to Algiers, Casablanca and Tangier.
- Neither printed.↩