851T.24/17
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Thomas C. Wasson of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs
| Participants: | Colonel Connor, OPD,17 War Department. |
| Colonel Ferenbaugh, OPD, War Department. | |
| Colonel Johnson, OPD, War Department. | |
| Colonel Magruder, OPD, War Department. | |
| Mr. Wasson. |
I referred to a telegram (no. 523, December 23, 5 p.m.) from Dakar, which mentioned that the Glassford Mission will deal with the problems of civilian supplies and United Nations utilization of the economic resources of French West Africa, and inquired whether any steps had been taken to ship consumers’ goods from the United States, particularly cotton goods and foodstuffs, to that area. Colonel Ferenbaugh replied that in so far as he knew the War Department had done nothing about this matter. He went on to say that when General Fitzgerald proceeded to Dakar he filled a large bomber with foodstuffs, including turkeys and canned goods of various kinds, which he gave to the Governor General.
Colonel Ferenbaugh informed me that in any event it will not be possible to send much to French West Africa because of the difficult shipping situation. Exports to that country will of necessity be on a minimum scale. He stated that the French were not placing all of their merchant vessels in the United Nations’ shipping pool, and that after those that they were retaining were degaussed they might be used in trade between the United States and French West Africa. In that case they would have to be fitted with guns to protect them against submarines. It was suggested that French naval escort vessels should be equipped with depth charges and that these could be used for convoy purposes along the West African coast.
Colonel Ferenbaugh said that French West Africa could be considered as part of French North Africa in connection with the civilian supply problem, or it could be grouped with British West Africa. The officers present seemed to be of the opinion that a case could be made for special treatment of French West Africa, but that for political reasons it might be expedient to include it with the French North African territories in so far as civilian supplies were concerned. Colonel Ferenbaugh expressed the opinion that the French should participate in the supply program for French West Africa and that it might be well for them to establish a small economic mission in the United States with which the American [Page 499] authorities could clear questions involving exports to and imports from that area. A long-range policy could thus be developed and a mutual economy established. He hoped that the French would be required to pay for everything they obtain, with the exception of Red Cross relief, as that would make them feel that they were on an equal footing in the war effort and would enhance their self-respect. Gifts of food and clothing, on the other hand, would not win us any worthwhile friends.
Colonel Johnson remarked that the overall shipping problem was serious and that all available bottoms were required for sending war supplies to the various theaters of operations, and that French West Africa’s economy would be governed to a large extent by the amount of shipping which it turned loose. The Combined Transport Committee allocates vessels for particular runs and it is primarily responsible for the overall picture of shipping requirements.
- Operations Division.↩