740.0011 European War 1939/22717½

The Counselor of Embassy in France (Murphy) to the Acting Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Atherton)

Dear Ray: During the interval since the despatch of my No. 167 of March 18, 1942,78 which had reference to my confidential letters of December 7, 1941,79 January 12 and March 14, 1942,80 to the Under Secretary, I have been active in pursuit of the hope that the resumption of hostilities against the Germans and Italians might be developed in French North Africa. As you will have noted from a number of reports from this area, there are interesting trends in that direction.

I gathered from the Department’s secret letter of March 5, 1942,81 enclosing the War Department’s comment of February 25, 1942,82 relating to this movement, that it was desired that efforts along these lines be continued. It was obvious that the weakness of the North African movement consisted principally in the lack of a leader with the prestige of Weygand to insure its success from the beginning. I am reasonably confident that that deficiency may now be considered as rectified.

Since his escape from Koenigstein in May, the leaders of the North African group have been in touch personally with General André [Henri] Giraud. He has given them his authorization to continue their effort, and has designated certain military officers in French North Africa for this purpose. One of these officers, General Charles Mast, is stationed in Algiers as Chief of Staff of the 19th Army Corps. I have had several conversations with Mast. He tells me that, operating with the consent of the French Second Bureau, he organized General Giraud’s escape from Germany. Mast himself had been a prisoner in that same fortress.

According to Mast, General Giraud is heart and soul for the resumption of hostilities against the Axis and will take command of the French forces either in France or North Africa. He believes that the action will start in North Africa. This statement is confirmed by two other members of this particular group who have recently visited General Giraud in France.

General Mast said that it is still too soon for the commencement of staff talks in this connection. He anticipates that these might be held in the autumn subject, of course, to other developments, [Page 332] such as Axis provocation, which might precipitate earlier action. He stated the opinion which he said is shared by General Giraud and other important French officers, that German defeat is certain, and that the only hope France has to emerge from her humiliating position is the resumption of hostilities at a time when she can expect from the United States adequate and timely military aid.

Referring to North Africa, Mast states the opinion that we could count on the cooperation in French North Africa of at least 14 divisions composed of French officers and French and native troops. I refer in this connection to my telegram No. 167 of March 18, 3 p.m.

It is refreshing to have the point of view expressed by General Mast who, with other officers, insists that it matters little what politicians in Vichy may say or do during the coming few months. He insists that they will disappear, and that France’s destinies will be taken in hand by the military. I asked in that connection, as a matter of detail, whether he considered Resident General Noguès of French Morocco as a politician or a soldier. He promptly replied that he considered Noguès as neither. The representative of General Giraud in French Morocco is General Béthouard,83 a divisional commander now stationed at Casablanca.

There are many phases of this tricky situation on which I would like to have the benefit of your advice and counsel, in addition to the strictly military angle, if we are to support a movement in this area. There are important financial, economic and political considerations which naturally arise. For example, the group have presented me with a questionnaire on financial and economic matters, a copy of which I attach in translation.84

As you may know, Lt. Colonel Robert Solborg, Assistant Military Attaché in Lisbon, telegraphed me at Casablanca, suggesting that he come over for consultation. On his arrival in Casablanca I placed him in contact with certain individuals involved in this movement, and arranged for his visit to Algiers. He at that time provided me with a copy of the recent SOE85 directive for French North Africa. Colonel Solborg stated that he had a most favorable impression of the persons with whom he conversed in Algiers. He will report to the Office of Strategic Services and to the War Department these conversations in detail. Colonel Solborg is now in Lisbon enroute to the United States.

I cannot help but feel that the recent unfortunate developments in Egypt may serve to focus more of our attention on the Mediterranean area. If that is true, I hope that the Department may [Page 333] be able to devote some added attention to French North Africa. The more I study this area, the greater becomes my conviction that North Africa affords, by virtue of its climate, terrain and geographical situation, an ideal platform from which the French with our aid could launch military action against the Axis which would shorten the present conflict by many months and facilitate our victory.

The Department’s decision to resume operations under the North African Economic Accord is a splendid step which I hope will lead in that direction. Might I have your comment, if practicable, on the attached questionnaire.

With warm regards to you and Sam, I am,

Yours sincerely,

Robert D. Murphy
  1. Ante, p. 271.
  2. Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. ii, p. 494.
  3. Ante, pp. 229 and 263, respectively.
  4. Not printed.
  5. Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of Staff, p. 258.
  6. Gen. Emile-Marie Béthouart.
  7. Not printed.
  8. British Special Operations Executive.