740.0011 European War 1930/8015: Telegram

The Ambassador in France ( Leahy ) to the Secretary of State

127. For the President and Secretary of State. I called on Marshal Petain at 5:30 this afternoon and saw him alone. I stated that I had come because the President had asked me to keep in as close touch with the Marshal as was convenient to the latter. The Marshal expressed his appreciation of this attitude and said that he, too, desired to maintain close contact with me. He then said that the times were extremely difficult: “We are caught in a vise between the Germans and the British, and the Germans are pushing us more and more to the British side”. He understands that a letter will be sent him by Mr. Hitler within the next 2 days in which he would take the view that the dismissal of Monsieur Laval17 was a personal affront. “He will try to make me take back Monsieur Laval. I have no intention of letting him succeed. The Germans are becoming more difficult for us each day. I understand they will probably make some demands. What the nature of these demands is, I do not know, but I have no intention of yielding to them. They may want me to change part or all of my Ministry. When I have received Mr. Hitler’s letter, then I [Page 107] can tell my people what the Germans demand; before that, I do not wish to speak. I shall have to warn my people that hard days are ahead; that they must prepare for sacrifices and resistance.”

I remarked that I thought the Marshal had done much to restore France and that I am hopeful for the future. The Marshal replied that he had been able to accomplish much in the internal field but in the external he was powerless—the Germans were masters.

I said I was hopeful of accomplishing something for France in her hour of need in the matter of food supplies. Many rumors are circulating, I said. The rumors even talked of the total occupation of France, of an attack on North Africa and similar possibilities.

The Marshal replied that he did not know what the Germans would demand, but he doubted that they would occupy the entire country for the more they extend themselves the more they weaken themselves. However, they might occupy all of France and in such case he added: “I shall not move”. He said: “They may ask for bases in the Mediterranean or North Africa. I shall not cede them”. I expressed the opinion that he was wise in this policy; that the history of Hitler had shown that granting one demand was only the prelude to further and greater demands; that this was the German policy. The Marshal expressed his full agreement and added that he believed his government is solid behind him in determination to resist the German demands. I entertain some doubt as to the solidity of the entire Vichy Government in this matter.

What the Germans next plan, the Marshal does not know. They have troops, he said, all over Rumania. Do they plan a move on Turkey? He does not know. They also have, he said, troops in Sicily and an attack on Tunis is always possible.

He talked with much bitterness of the Paris press campaign against his Government and spoke of the Frenchmen who wrote for those papers. “They have sold themselves to the Germans and are paid by them. I hope that when the war is over they themselves will receive their just deserts.” Tomorrow, he said in the Nouveaux Temps in Paris will appear an article by Luchaire18 attacking several members of his Government with the object of pressing him to get rid of them. “That”, he said, “is pure blackmail”.

He spoke of the severe food problem: “We would have enough to feed ourselves but the Germans are stealing everything in the occupied zone. If America can send foodstuffs”, he said, “they must come to Marseilles which with Toulon are the only two ports France has left”.

In conclusion he said it was a bitter thing to be defeated. Always before he had been on the victor’s side and he could assure me it was [Page 108] quite a different feeling. He added with a smile, however, “since I am always young I can bear it”.

He again pressed [expressed] his appreciation for my visit and said that at a time like this, one values one’s friends. The Marshal seemed particularly alert and vigorous and well aware of the gravity of the dilemma facing him.

The Marshal needs support in taking a strong stand against German demands and I therefore urgently recommend that without delay and before it becomes necessary for him to make a decision on the contents of the expected German letter, it be announced in Washington that the American Red Cross will begin in the near future to provide and distribute food to the destitute people of unoccupied France.

In this connection, and considering existing blockade restrictions on Red Cross shipments, it would appear to me to be definitely advantageous to the British cause to stiffen the Marshal’s determination to refuse further concessions to Germany.

Leahy
  1. Pierre Laval was replaced by Pierre Etienne Flandin as Vice President of the French Council of Ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs, December 14, 1940.
  2. Jean Luchaire, French journalist.