740.00112 European War 1939/5195: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 6—6:33 p.m.]
212. From Murphy. The Secretary General for French Africa, Admiral Fénard, again asked me to call today. He said all the news he receives from France confirmed what he previously stated (see my April 1, 3 p.m.) that Laval will not be returned to power in the near future.
He eagerly inquired for news regarding the resumption of shipments under the North African accord urging that we manifest a vigorously sympathetic interest in this area. He said that personally he has gone far out on a limb advocating to Vichy that French Africa should cooperate with and rely on the United States for supplies, that he detests the Germans and knows that when the time is ripe France and the United States must pull together. He expressed apprehension that if we hesitate too long the Germans will have their way adding that he knows conversations between Barnaud, Leroy Beaulieu and German representatives are now in course regarding supplies for this area.
[Page 280]He said that there has been a sharp decline of North African exports to France and that North Africa can do but little to supply the French wheat deficit which he estimates at 130,000 tons.
Fénard repeatedly urged that we could afford to take a broad view of the question of economic aid for North Africa.
I inquired whether he could suggest a formula under which edible oil shipments for [from] French West Africa to Germany might at least temporarily be suspended. He said that it should not be forgotten that the operation of the French Merchant Marine was permitted by the Germans after the Armistice only on the basis that France would deliver certain colonial products; that the Germans are exceedingly dissatisfied with what they are getting and that they are fully capable of sinking the French ships engaged in the North African traffic unless the French make some pretense of deliveries. He thought that if we wished to make a point of such deliveries that it should be done in a friendly informal way at Vichy, not facing the French with a threat, but merely suggesting that the French might wish to inform the Germans that we were threatening discontinuance of all economic assistance to French Africa unless a reduction of the deliveries of colonial products to Germany was effected.
Fénard concluded by saying that the resignation of Admiral Muselier7 has had a most favorable effect in French Naval circles increasing their confidence in our Government.
Repeated to Vichy. [Murphy.]
- Vice Adm. Emile Muselier, Commander in Chief of the Free French naval forces.↩