772.00/7–2854: Telegram
The Consul General at Tunis (Hughes) to the Department of State1
5. Voizard goes Paris today and strong indications he will be replaced. Residency officials admit Voizard not popular with Mendes-France and especially Fouchet. Many French residents now openly oppose him for do-nothing attitude regarding assassinations. Residency protocol chief stated widow of French Colonel Paillonne murdered Saturday refused attend husband’s military funeral yesterday if Voizard present and he did not appear.2
As Boisseson can not return some days command temporarily shared between Latour and Cabinet chief Fourier Rouelle. Latter unable confirm Paris rumors that Sarraut to be Resident General or Aziz Bjellouli next Prime Minister but believes new Cabinet will be named soon. All operations conducted Paris. Residency also indicated clean sweep its personnel probable and restaffing with no non-political officers.
While recognizing Voizard has not given firm leadership since his March 4 reforms proved unpalatable and failed stamp out terrorism Paris faces extreme difficulty finding succesor of same ability to satisfy enraged French and pacify Tunisians.
- This telegram was repeated to Paris, Algiers, Rabat, Tangier, Casablanca, Cairo, Tripoli, and Rome for Maffitt.↩
- Despatch 25 from Tunis, July 28, reported the assassination of Lt. Col. Henri de la Paillone, Director of the Central Administration of the Tunisian Army and Chief of the French Military Mission in Tunisia, on July 24. Many of the French residents of Tunisia considered Voizard indirectly responsible for the assassination because they blamed him for failing to take adequate protective measures. (772.00/7–2854)↩