740.0011 European War 1939/16431: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 5—6:45 p.m.]
1405. Marshal Pétain received me this afternoon with no other person present at the interview than Mr. Matthews who acted as interpreter. I told him first of Matthews’ transfer to London and he turned and said though without bitterness: “I hope you will remind the British that I promised that I would never attack them. Each time there is an incident it is they who are the attackers—Mers-el-Kebir, Dakar, Syria and the destruction of all our ports. So far I have not retaliated.” (Whether he had reference to the reported seizure of five French merchant ships by the British in the past few days which has stirred considerable feeling both in Foreign Office and naval circles, he did not indicate.)
Bearing in mind the Department’s telegram 704, September 8 [18], 7 p.m., I told the Marshal that there is a growing feeling in the United States that the continued reinforcement of French defenses at Dakar and the large expenditures involved therein are taken under German initiative and are considered a threat to the Western Hemisphere. I asked him specifically whether I could assure my Government that if that area were attacked by Hitler’s forces he would resist. He said in reply: “We are in a position where we must obtain German authorization for strengthening our forces in Africa. But the orders issued as they stand today in our colonies are to resist attack from whatever quarter it may come. That includes from the German side.” He added after my further inquiry: “The orders will [Page 454] not be changed”. (I personally am not sure that these orders may not be changed under pressure.)
I then referred to recent reports concerning the proposed establishment of German Consulates in North Africa and he said that he did not have the details. He understands that one is to be established at Casablanca but did not seem to know that one is likewise to be opened at Algiers. He said that the number of the personnel has not yet been fixed and he has no knowledge as to just what functions these German Consuls will have. (Department’s telegram 800 October 23 [25], 11 [7] p.m.) “They will of course”, he added, “engage in surveillance activity.” He said that he would frankly tell me the details if he knew them but that the whole question has not yet been decided.
As to any German plans toward French Africa, he said he had no information. He feels, however, that the Germans will, by the end of this month, have “finished their Russian campaign, occupying Leningrad, Moscow and Rostov, and will then cease for the winter. They must obtain Russian oil for they have expended huge quantities in this campaign. They have no object in going on to Siberia”, he said. “Their losses have been, I believe, extremely heavy and certainly they are weakened but that they will undertake some operation elsewhere this winter seems certain. They are still at war with England. When they have finished with Russia they can either attack England or attempt to isolate her. In the latter case, they will turn their attention to Africa or to Turkey, Iraq and Iran. This is of course just a personal opinion based on what I should do in their place. Just what their intentions are, I do not know.”
I asked him what he could tell me with respect to any general negotiations with the Germans and whether some change in the Armistice regime is contemplated. He replied: “When they have finished with Russia, they will turn their attention to us. They will certainly offer us some concessions. My real fear is that they will seem too generous.” He quoted with emphasis and repeated later on: [“]Timeo danaos et dona ferentes. I do not trust them.[”] What “counterpart” the Germans will ask he said he does not know but he is sure it will add to his difficulties; neither does he know what his own demands will be. He made two important facts clear however: That serious conversations have not yet begun but that he feels certain that some offer to change the present Franco-German relationship will be sought “upon termination of the Russian campaign.”
[The remainder of the telegram reports Pétain’s protest to Hitler against mass execution of French hostages.]