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Weygand, that he has until now consistently refused, but that now there is nothing for him to do
but yield to the demand.
 
        In reply to a question as to how far the Germans have gone in their threats, he replied that
their demands included everything, among other things the bases and the fleet, to which he
refused to accede. Yesterday however the Germans sent him a "brutal" "dictat" threatening in the
event of refusal to occupy all of France, to feed the army of occupation with French foodstuffs,
and to permit the native population to die of hunger.
 
        Being himself a prisoner and being concerned primarily with the fate of his people to whom
he has dedicated himself he had found it necessary to yield to the German threat and recall
General Weygand from Africa. He ~ent on to say that there will be no change in the situation in
Africa, that no successor to Weygand will be appointed, that he remains determined to preserve
the Empire, and that the general command of African forces will be administered from Vichy.
 
        Command from Vichy to me means only command by Admiral Darlan, Minister of National
Defense.
 
        Upon inquiry as to his estimate of the reason for German objection to General Weygand he
replied that Weygand was disliked by the Germans first because he had communicated to them the
Armistice terms in 1918, and second because he is "undiplomatic" and "indiscreet". In this reply I
must assume the Marshal knew he was not telling the whole truth.
 
       While the great inarticulate and leaderless mass of ~he French people remain hopeful of a
British victory and continue to hope that America will in the end rescue them from their present
predicament without their doing anything for themselves, the Government of France today headed
by a feeble, frightened old man surrounded by selfseeking conspirators is altogether controlled by
a group which, probably for its own safety, is devoted to the Axis philosophy.
 
Leaders of this group are:
 
Admiral Darlan, Vice President and heir apparent, M. Pierre Pucheu, Secretary of Interior,
M. Benoist-M~chin, Secretary of State to the
Vice President,
M. de Brinon, French Ambassador in Paris,