550.AD1/144a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
2384. The following telegram has been sent to Algiers for Murphy:29
“This Government is desirous of having French representation at the food conference which is to open here on May 18 if the North African regime and the French National Committee can come to an agreement concerning the composition of a joint delegation. Please take this up with the appropriate authorities of the North African regime and request that they discuss it with the Fighting French Mission in Algiers.
No formal invitation should be extended to the French unless and until they agree upon joint representation. However, for your information and in order that you may inform the French of the subjects with which the conference will deal the text of the invitation which has been extended to the governments of the interested countries is quoted below: (Here is quoted circular telegram of March 24, 9 p.m.30).”
Please inform Admiral Stark31 and request him, if he believes it desirable to do so, to bring to the attention of the French National Committee the fact that, since conversations between the Committee and the North African regime are proceeding in Algiers, we have raised this matter for their joint consideration there. We shall expect to receive our reply in Algiers but wished the National Committee to know at once that the approach is being undertaken.
- Robert D. Murphy, Personal Representative of President Roosevelt in North Africa, with the rank of Minister; Chief Civil Affairs Officer at Algiers; and U.S. Political Adviser, staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean Theater.↩
- See footnote 13, p. 825.↩
- Adm. Harold R. Stark, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Europe.↩