740.0011 European War 1939/14468½: Telegram

The Consul at Leopoldville (Mallon) to the Secretary of State

General de Gaulle told George Weller, Chicago Daily News, and Karl Quigley of the United Press in an interview at Brazzaville, August 25, that he had offered the use of the ports of French Equatorial Africa to the United States Government and that the information could be released. Story was cabled to Chicago Daily News and Quigley received telegram today from United Press requesting confirmation. At the same time General de Gaulle telegraphed from Lagos trying to stop the story.

General de Gaulle told me August 26 he had made the offer through the American Minister at Cairo50 but he intimated that the matter was confidential.

Designation of Military Observer to French Equatorial Africa was known in Brazzaville before the Department informed this office and it has been reported to the press by Weller.

Mallon
  1. See telegram No. 680, June 8, noon, from the Minister in Egypt, p. 570.