Lord Halifax called to see me this afternoon at his request. The
Ambassador handed me a memorandum relating to the hope of the
British Government that the United States would urgently express its
desire to Marshal Pétain that the continued German infiltration in
North Africa be stopped.
I told the Ambassador that this matter was already under
consideration and that this Government would take further action in
this regard.
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the British Embassy
The information contained in the telegrams sent by the British
Consul General at Tangier to the Foreign Office on February
17th, the substance of which was communicated to Mr. Sumner
Welles by the British Ambassador on February 19th,84 together with other information regarding
the arrival of German personnel in French North Africa indicate
that the Germans are following their usual plan of infiltration
and show that unless the French authorities can be persuaded to
take some action we may shortly be faced with a situation in
North Africa which it may be impossible to retrieve.
His Majesty’s Government think it essential that some action
should be taken without delay, more especially since Marshal
Petain seems to be becoming gradually pushed into the background
at Vichy and since the possibility, to say the least, of an
understanding between Admiral Darlan and M. Laval with the
object of bringing about closer collaboration with the Germans
cannot be excluded. General Weygand is himself unlikely to take
any vigorous action without orders from Marshal Petain. His
Majesty’s Government themselves have at present no means of
pressure which can usefully be employed.
The United States Government on the other hand are in a strong
position for exercising pressure. Petain attaches great
importance
[Page 266]
to
maintenance of good relations with United States Government and
to presence of United States Ambassador at Vichy,84a He is no
doubt hoping to obtain United States supplies for unoccupied
France as well as supplies for North Africa in regard to which
United States Government are at present negotiating with
Moroccan authorities.
The activities of German Commission offer such dangerous
possibilities that we trust that United States Government will
consider it possible to use to the full the lever which they
possess. We would suggest that Admiral Leahy be instructed to
point out strongly to Petain the dangers involved in continuance
and extension of activities of Armistice Commission and to make
it clear to him that unless French authorities decide to curtail
them, the United States Government will be compelled to break
off their present negotiations with Moroccan authorities. There
would clearly be only disadvantage in sending supplies to North
Africa if they were destined to fall under German control.
A precedent for strong action on the part of French is provided
by action of Governor of Senegal who is understood to have
firmly declined some time ago to have a German Commission at
Dakar.
Please represent above considerations in highest quarters and
urge them to take action in the sense indicated. It would be
well for United States Government to approach Weygand at the
same time as Petain. Pending a satisfactory reply Mr. Murphy
might be instructed to stall on his conversations and to let
Moroccan authorities know the reason.
