740.0011 European War 1939/12055: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:45 p.m.]
244. From Murphy.23 I learn from an excellent source that a group of 20 German Armistice delegates arrived here yesterday to take possession of military automotive equipment stored in Algeria since the Armistice. This equipment, the exact amount of which I do not know, was requisitioned shortly after the Armistice and delivery thereof is in accordance with the terms of the Convention. However, my informant states that when the equipment arrives in Libya it will prove worthless because great pains have been taken to so doctor mechanical parts that even a slick used car dealer would be impressed.
Repeated to Vichy. [Murphy.]
- Robert D. Murphy, Counselor of Embassy in France, temporarily at Algiers, with responsibility for supervision of the North African economic aid program.↩