Foreign News: Weygand Speaks

“When,” asked General Maxime Weygand once in a moment of deep exasperation, “will the old man [Pétain] stop sleeping with that charcoal dealer from Chateldon [Laval]?” The distrust of the hard-bitten little soldier for the swarthy politician of the white tie was deep-seated and violent. It led many people in many capitals to speculate that Weygand might desert Vichy for Great Britain. Last week North American Newspaper Alliance’s chubby, energetic Jay Allen flew to Marrakech, Morocco, scooped the world’s press on Weygand’s present political intentions: “I cannot give you answers to questions like these,” snapped the General, brushing Newsman Allen’s prepared list aside. “There is, however, something I want to say. … I am here to serve my country. That country is Marshal Pétain incarnated. There is not any second France. There is only one. I have been delegated to command all French Africa. My mission is to maintain the unity of French Africa in itself and the unity of French Africa with the metropolis of France. Africa is one with France and General Weygand is one with Marshal Pétain.”

Then the General, who during the short minute of the interview had sat on his chair “as if on tiptoe,” sprang to his feet and with the brief explanation, “The troops are waiting,” strode off, leaving Newsman Allen with his nugget.