U.S. NAVAL COMMUNICATION SERVICE SRS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FROM: OPNAV TO: THE PRESIDENT "142115" BLACK 37 -- STATE 10 PRIORITY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ALTHOUGH LEAHY STATES THAT IT IS PERHAPS TOO EARLY TO GIVE A GENERAL PICTURE OF THE IMPRESSION CREATED IN FRANCE BY PETAINS STATMENT OF POLICY IN THE GENERAL OPINION IN FRANCE IT REPRESENTS NO ADVANCE TOWARD COLLABORATION WITH GERMANY. IN THE INTERNAL FIELD THE AMBASSADOR ADDS THAT THERE IS A TENDENCY TO FEEL THAT THE REORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT WILL RESULT IN NO REAL CHANGE ALTHOUGH THE STRENGTHENING OF THE POLICE CONTROL WHICH REVEALS AN UNEASINESS AS TO THE POSITION OF THE REGIME WILL PROBABLY NOT SERVE TO MAKE ITS POSITION MORE POPULAR. ONE INTERPRETATION OF THE DECLARATION AND THE ACCOMPANYING MEASURES IS THAT THEY ARE PART OF A MANEUVER INTENDED TO GAIN TIME FOR FRANCE SO THAT THE MARSHAL CAN TELL THE GERMANS THAT THE PROCESS OF REORGANIZATION WILL REQUIRE SOME TIME BEFORE ITS RESULTS CAN BE JUDGED. IN THE INTERVENING TIME IT IS HOPED THAT IF THE RUSSIANS HOLD THE GERMANS MAY PERHAPS BE IN NO POSITION TO EXERCISE THE MAXIMUM PRESSURE OF WHICH THEY ARE CAPABLE TODAY. HULL TOR 2349 PG 14 AUG 1941 |