December 22, 1941
 
Notes from conversation:
 
        Do not forget that Petain has helf the fleet, the bases, and the 
 
Nazi factions among his people.
 
                         ***
 
        Catroux is adored by all French in North Africa. They believe 
 
he is the great pro-consul in the Republican tradition of Lyautey.
 
                              ***
 
     The French liberals believe that De Gaulle is a symbol, but not
 
an effective administrator. They are afraid of his politics--his right 
 
wing Catholic Fascist mind.
 
                              ***
 
        In Tunis, the Arabs are seeking every opportunity to kill an Italian, 
 
because the Italians bombed Tunis, and the French, who control it, are 
 
anti-Fascist because they hate the fifty-five thousand Italians who would 
 
become their overlords, instead of their agricultural workers, in the 
 
event Berlin-Rome wins. So, we have both the French and the Arabs against 
 
the Axis in Tunis due to the fact that Italian colonization (55,000) is 
 
a true menace to both Arab and French.
 
                         ***
 
     Take Dakar last, because we would have to move up from the south,
 
and the Germans would beat us into Tangiers and down the coast. Forget
 
Dakar, take Tangier.
 
                              ***
 
        Between Tarifa and Africa is but a few miles, and German artillery
 
and guns in force are there now.
 
        The conservative and upper class would go German if the Arab Krim 
 
were brought in early. Germans are now praying for an Arab uprising.