851.00/2534: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Leahy) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 5—9:24 a.m.]
1496. This evening I received a visit from a committee composed of Senator Bardoux, M. Jaray and M. Roz representing the Société France-Amérique and the French Senate, which committee stated that it sought the interview with the knowledge and approval of Marshal Pétain.
[Page 493]The committee asked that I transmit to Washington an expression of hope on the part of those whom they represent that no change be made as a result of Weygand’s removal in the existing friendly political relations or the plan for economic aid for the African colonies. The committee said it was assured by the Marshal that the resignation of Weygand has made no change whatever in French policy in Africa; that the officials remaining there will at least for the present carry out exactly the policy followed by General Weygand, and that a stoppage of economic aid at this time would have the effect of throwing the native population into the hands of the Axis Powers who may promise anything without any intention of carrying out their promises.
The committee said that public reaction to Weygand’s dismissal has been seriously adverse to the Marshal’s prestige and that a withdrawal of the Ambassador or the stoppage of economic aid to Africa would discourage those Frenchmen who desire a British victory and would be an exact compliance with the desires of the Axis.
This report is forwarded in compliance with the request of the committee whose members are definitely anti-Axis.
Senator Bardoux in addition told me that he has highly reliable information to the effect that Germany has lost 1,200,000 killed in Russia, and that a Swiss Army officer of the highest rank who returned some days ago from a visit with the German Army in Russia told him that “Germany has already lost the war.”
I suggested that in view of the present German prospects France should now be able to say no to German demands. He replied that he held exactly the same opinion and that he has and will continue to stress it in his contacts with the Marshal.
It is my personal opinion that the Marshal will not refuse future German demands if accompanied by sufficient pressure.