WEYGAND AND . VICHY
Sta,—On the facts Mr. Harold Nicolson is certainly right in doubting the story that the Archduke Maximilian was General Weygand's father. But there is more than "some foundation for the theory that he was not born of French nationality," since he has himself given Brussels as his birthplace, although he has been reticent about his parentage. It has often been stated and never, I believe, denied that he is a son of King Leopold II, who would have had no difficulty in arranging a nomination to St. Cyr.
It may be of interest to recall that Armstrong's "Chronology of Failure," a balanced and objective account of the events of May and June, 1940, makes Wergand's defeatism anterior to and more determined than that of Darlan. That Weygand's subsequent recall from his North African command should have been demanded by the Germans, on account of his recalcitrance to collaboration at a time when Darlan stood. high in their favour is just one more of those apparent paradoxes which make speculation about the motives of the Vichy protagonists so vain until more facts are available.—I am, sir, Yours faithfully; Elgin Lodge, Osborne Road, Windsor. ARTHUR RAU.
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