Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, Europe, Volume II

740.0011 Pacific War/1980

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Samuel Reber of the Division of European Affairs

[Washington,] February 22, 1942.

Participants:	Mr. Tixier, Free French Delegate
	Mr. Boegner, Member of Free French Delegation
	Gen. Robert Crawford, War Plans Division, War Dept.
	Col. Stevens, United States Army
	Mr. Atherton
	Mr. Reber

Mr. Tixier called urgently, at his request, to say that he had received a telegram from General de Gaulle in which the latter asked that assurances be obtained from this Government in respect of the following:

• “1. The authority of the National Committee over our possessions in the Pacific—New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Oceania—should be explicitly recognized.
• “2. The High Command of the Allied Forces cooperating in direct defense of our possessions should be in the hands of the Admiral, who would thus be integrated within the frame work of the Pacific Interallied High Command.
• “3. The (?) base should eventually be in the command of American officers under the Admiral’s high authority.”

With regard to the first point, Mr. Atherton stated that the authority of the French National Committee over French possessions in the Pacific had been recognized by this Government as Mr. Tixier was aware and the American Consul in Nouméa had been instructed⁷² so to inform the High Commissioner, d’Argenlieu. Mr. Tixier felt, nevertheless, that it would be most important that a public statement should be issued to this effect in as much as Admiral Decoux in Indo-China was making use of his recent appointment as Vichy High Commissioner for French Possessions in the Pacific to demonstrate that Vichy authority in the Pacific Islands had been recognized by the United States.

With regard to the High Command of the Allied forces in the Pacific, Mr. Tixier explained that the High Commissioner had, several months ago, urgently requested ammunition and personnel for the defense of the islands. He had been informed that defense forces were on their way but was without information regarding the command of these forces. General de Gaulle was insistent that High Commissioner d’Argenlieu should have direct command of forces in the French Islands. General Crawford explained that no Pacific Interallied High Command had been organized. The French Islands were located in the Pacific area which was under the command of the American Naval C. in C. He considered that it was necessary that the High Commissioner discuss this question directly with General Emmons who is in command of the United States land forces in that area or with the naval Commander-in-Chief. The unity of command between the various forces operating in that area has not yet been integrated and it is felt that integration should take place between the commands. Mr. Tixier insisted upon the urgency of the situation in view of the immediate threat to the islands.

With regard to the High Commissioner’s authority over the local bases, General Crawford stated he felt that this would be acceptable in line with the general procedure which had been followed in similar cases.^72a

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72. See telegram dated February 23, 4 p.m., infra; this telsgram was originally dated February 22.
73. By correspondence in December 1941 and January 1942 between the Free French Delegate (Tixier) and the Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Atherton), general agreement was reached for use by U. S. military and naval authorities of an air field on New Caledonia and a naval base on Bora-Bora. Details of the arrangements for these and other bases, if needed, were to be made by agreements with the local authorities. Correspondence not printed. (File 811.34551 L)