Extracts from a letter from Seán Murphy to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)
(Copy)

[matter omitted]

For about a week past there has been fairly extensive sabotage by fire of harvested corn and of harvesting machinery. The newspapers allege that these are Communistic activities encouraged by foreign money and propaganda. The amount of damage done is probably exaggerated. There is, I think, no doubt that the hostility against the Government and even against the Marshal has greatly increased within the last month. Criticism is much more open and more widespread. In the case of 80% at least of the French, they are waiting impatiently for an invasion by the Anglo-Americans. They are quite convinced that Germany is beaten and with typical French shrewdness they think it is a good thing to get in early and well with the opponents. It is the reverse of the coin this time as compared with July, 1940.

[matter omitted]

You will appreciate from the foregoing that the general attitude in France is one of expectancy. The occupying authorities fear invasion. The vast majority of the French population, as far as I can gather, eagerly await it.