740.00112 European War 1939/2638b: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France ( Leahy )

379. The Department is instructing Murphy in his present status of Counselor of your Embassy to return to French Africa for the [Page 325] purpose of conferring with the competent French officials regarding the execution of the plan of economic cooperation which is now in operation. Murphy will direct the control organization which is being organized. The first members thereof will proceed shortly under assignment as Vice Consuls to several posts in French North Africa.

With reference to your telegram 439 of April 14, 3 p.m.55 please inform such officials as you may consider desirable that the Department approves in principle application of the plan of economic cooperation to French West Africa as well as French North Africa. We have discussed the matter with British officials here, who have referred the question to London. In the meanwhile and pending further discussion of the matter, we would be disposed to agree as an emergency measure to the transfer to Dakar of a limited amount of the fuel which is scheduled to leave a United States port for Casablanca about May 3. Such a shipment would of course be solely for the use of Air France and would be strictly controlled by Consul Wasson and the Socony representative at Dakar.

In communicating this information to the appropriate French officials you should emphasize that we are actuated by a desire to strengthen the French administration in French North and West Africa thus enabling greater resistance to Axis encroachment. We would appreciate in turn their cooperation with Murphy and the granting of the necessary facilities to him and our consular representatives in that area.

In connection with the general subject of economic aid to French Africa, the British desire written assurances that the French vessels leaving this country with supplies for that area should return unconditionally to an American port. Please endeavor to obtain such assurances as soon as possible and notify the Department by telegraph.

Hull
  1. Ante, p. 285.