740.0011 European War 1939/8819

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)

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.

S[umner] W[elles]
[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.

  1. See memorandum by the Under Secretary of State, February 19, p. 263.
  2. Adm. William D. Leahy.