The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-23

Japanese and Chinese). So now he gets $50.. week, has a room in the home of ex-Ambassador Robert Woods Bliss in return for giving an hour day to Chin csc research for the Harvard group which MT. Bliss has endowed walks three miles to work and says he never felt better.
 Naturally, a man of Leger's in- side background and friendship for the United States was con- suited by the State Departrc c-et c-ess regarding conditions .-l france. And long ago he advised that Marshal Weygand and Marshal Petain were not to be trusted when it came to relations with Germany.
 They are like women growing old who don't know it." Leger warned. "They are as vain as peacocks. Their whole prestige is tied up in the defeat of Bri- tain. They prophesied her de- defeat, and now they have to help her be defeated"
 What he referred to was the prediction by Weygand in May, 1940, that England could not hold out more than two or three weeks. It was on this recommendation that France sued for an armis- tice.
 Also Leger referred to the fact that Petain had been a British hater ever since the World War, when he had proposed retreat from Verdun in March, 1918, leav- ing the British army high and dry. Marshal Foch, however, inter Vened.
 WORLD WAR WOUNDS
 General Joffre, describing the incident in his book, says: 'Pe- tain has gone so far as to declare to Casteslnau over the telephone that they could not hold out for week and that it was important to plan at once fer the retreat"
 Field Marshal Montgomery-Mas- singberd repearted: "Petain want cd the entire French army to re- tire to a position covering Paris, leaving us to face the German onslaught alone, and allowing the Germans to separate the British and French armies. have never heard 8 senior general told off in public as was Petain by FOch on that occasion"
 Leger warned the State Depart nlent that Petain never had for given the British for cooperating with Foch and Clemenceau at that time. And it was then, March 1918, that the British finally yielded to the French plea for unified command provided that Petain was removed and Foch made Allied commander. This, Leger cautioned, still smoul- dered in Petains' heart, made him determined to throw the weight of Franc against the British.
 Meanwhile the State Depart ment was getting reports iron its Counselor of Embassy, Robert Murphy. Despite Petain's preju- dices. it was hoped that Weygand might be wooed into the British American orbit. And to that end Murphy had been transferred to Algiers for the special purpose of nursing Weygand, trying to bring his still powerful African army into the democratic camp. MURPHY vs. LEGER
 Murphys reports were optimistic He said he went to Mass with the aged Field Marshal almost daily, they were intimate friends. But every report sent by Murphy was countered by Leger.
 Weygand, he warned, was twist Ing Murphy around his finger. Murphy, when in Paris, had been as antt-C Communist as the French Royallsts. Murphy's preiudiees were Identical with Weygand's.
 Meanwhile Murphy recommends Cd ghiploads Of food, gasoline and oll for Weysand. Also he resofn- mendod tobacco. The tobacco crop had failed in North Africa, and the Arabs must have to- baeeo.
 Keens. ln lnrn. rssernrnaea