740.00112 European War 1939/3479a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Leahy)
704. There is a growing desire in this country to criticize our North African policy in spite of the fact that to date only 2 tankers and 2 cargo vessels have left this country after months of negotiation.
At the present moment the French authorities here are bargaining to increase French tonnage available for this North African service and likewise pressing the Treasury for increasingly substantial releases of blocked French funds to finance contemplated exports. The issues involved have broadened into the several interested Government departments including the War and Navy Departments and are approaching major Government policy. While in theory the British are participating in these North African negotiations in reality the British Ministry of Economic Warfare is also the spokesman for those elements in the British Government who only give lip service agreement.
The principal points on which the criticism is based are:
- (1)
- The reported large quantities of supplies proceeding from North Africa to continental France and eventually to Germany and Italy.
- (2)
- The recurring reports of trucks and war materials delivered or requisitioned under the terms of the Armistice Convention by German [Page 435] military authorities in North Africa. Frequently these are alleged to be used for strengthening the Axis North African forces.
- (3)
- The constantly repeated stories emanating from Vichy sources that there is to be a shift of personnel in North Africa with the elimination of all French officials not 100-percent collaborationists.
- (4)
- Frequent reports that the Vichy Government intends some sort of punitive campaign against French Equatorial Africa.
- (5)
- Lastly but most important the reported fortifying of Atlantic bases particularly Dakar with men and material (under German initiative) in a way which can only be interpreted as a threat to this hemisphere.
Point number 5 is stressed today as of particular importance since the French never made military preparations against German use of military air bases in Syria, nor did the French resist Japanese encroachment into Indochina. In connection with this latter the French Ambassador has stated in press interviews here that he is constantly urging upon us the necessity for safeguarding French possessions in Indochina in any negotiations this country may undertake as regards the Far East. All the above is also in face of current reports reaching here that the French are prepared to turn over bases, specifically Bizerta, to Germany and can offer no military resistance to a German occupation of North Africa.
As an example of steps taken to strengthen the military situation in the African territories, a well-authenticated report states that the garrison of French West Africa has recently increased by 8,000 men transferred from French North Africa. On September 10, 1941 the total garrison was estimated at 74,000 men. Furthermore, that among substantial supplies of all types recently sent to Dakar from North Africa, with some quantities from Marseille, were 900 tons of ammunition, 160 tons aviation bombs, 6,000 tons aviation gasoline (from French sources), an unknown quantity of crated planes and parts, 35 medium tanks, building materials for coast defenses, barracks, and airfields. It is reported eight airfields are in process of construction at Louga and that further defense installations are planned. All of this equipment and work represents obviously a large outlay.
While, of course, I do not necessarily consider it desirable to use this detailed information, I thought it of interest to you to be informed of these operations. We are much more concerned with the broad question of attitude and policies rather than the actual operations. We are requesting your judgment in this situation which, to public opinion here, is rapidly deteriorating and coming more and more under German domination. I think you might very well ask the French authorities whether there is any good reason for undertaking these military operations at great expense other than to serve the purpose of Hitler’s program and to create an atmosphere of threat to this hemisphere.
[Page 436]Please repeat this telegram to Murphy with any comment you may care to make. We desire both your opinions based on the above-outlined situation.