740.0011 European War 1939/25189
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Villard)
Mr. Guérin referred to press reports regarding possible Anglo-American action in French North Africa and expressed the opinion that this would be a favorable time for United States forces to land in Morocco and Algeria. He said that he wished to emphasize one point in particular, and that was the present position of Admiral Darlan.
Mr. Guérin said that Admiral Darlan was bitterly hostile to Laval and that he could be expected to interest himself in any movement which might react against his enemy. Admiral Darlan was also an opportunist and a very ambitious man, in Mr. Guérin’s opinion. It was well known, moreover, that while he was very anti-British, he was at heart anti-Nazi as well and would do anything he could to thwart Germany, provided it did not endanger his own position. The chief argument in any movement to influence Admiral Darlan, according to Mr. Guérin, was the argument of military and naval strength, and if the United Nations could produce proof of adequate strength Admiral Darlan might be prepared to render assistance.
Mr. Guérin urged that, in view of these facts, an attempt should be made to win over Admiral Darlan to the cause of the Democracies. In any situation which might develop in French North Africa the French Fleet would be the key factor and Admiral Darlan still had supreme authority over the fleet. Mr. Guérin insisted that it would not be far-fetched to assume that if Admiral Darlan could be convinced of adequate strength on the part of the United Nations for any enterprise in North Africa he and the fleet could be persuaded to break from Vichy and join the Democratic side. Mr. Guérin felt that at a critical time such as this, no harm could be done in approaching Admiral Darlan and the attempt might succeed with highly gratifying results.