840.50/2385: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 16—6:50 a.m.]
1419. From Murphy. My 1100, June 14, 9 p.m.89 Massigli90 has handed me a memorandum setting forth the views of the French Committee of National Liberation on the subject of the draft agreement for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration of which the principal features are the following:
- (1)
- The Committee welcomes the establishment of the Administration and is ready to give its full cooperation in the preparation of and execution of the proposed measures. The Committee, however, wishes to emphasize a distinction between immediate relief operations on the one hand and longer term reconstruction operations on the other.
- (2)
- With regard to the former which are of an urgent nature the Committee considers it essential that international action be undertaken rapidly by an administration which must have as simple and automatic machinery as possible so that it may be able to take quick decisions and be prepared immediately to accumulate reserves, to coordinate purchases, to utilize available shipping space and to insure [Page 967] payments to the suppliers. In order that these immediate and restricted operations can be carried out promptly the Committee believes that the Relief Administration should make use of the services and experiences of organizations which during the war have successfully supplied the Armed Forces and the civilian populations.
- (3)
- Inasmuch as reconstruction involves longer term operations the collaboration of the United Nations will require a different and probably more complex administration than that devoted purely to relief. This matter, however, may be made the subject of subsequent discussions.
- (4)
- At present and in compliance with the provisions of the draft agreement the Committee would like to negotiate as quickly as possible an agreement which would set forth the forms of cooperation to be established between the French Administration and the United Nations Administration. Insofar as France itself is concerned the National Administration will, with the assistance of the United Nations Administration, undertake the responsibility of insuring internal distribution.
- (5)
- Furthermore France’s position will enable it to make a substantial contribution in the distribution of relief in Europe. Likewise its interests in Asia and Oceania and its traditional knowledge of these regions fully justify its participation in the settlement of problems related to the Far East.
- (6)
- Therefore the French Committee considers that France should be immediately represented on the Committee of the Council for Europe, on the Committee of the Council for the Far East and on the Committee of Supplies. Likewise the Committee desires that the personnel of the United Nations Administration should include qualified French technicians among its principal officers.
- (7)
- Within the framework of the foregoing observations the Committee agrees to accept the text of the draft agreement and to participate in the proposed organization. It must, however, limit its agreement to the period of relief but will recommend that the provisional government to which it will deliver its powers adhere to the entire agreement. This provisional government would then request such modifications in the United Nations Administration as it might consider necessary.
- (8)
- In this respect the French Committee desires to point out that it is inconceivable that France should not take its place at the appropriate time upon an equal footing with China, U.S., Great Britain and Russia in the Council of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration as well as in all councils of the United Nations which shall be responsible for the establishment of peace and for the determination of European and general conditions that will regulate the postwar world.
It is understood that a similar communication is being made to the U.S. Government in Washington.91 Consequently unless otherwise instructed I shall not telegraph the full text of Massigli’s memorandum.
In delivering this communication to me Massigli said he wished to emphasize the urgency of the situation insofar as relief matters were [Page 968] concerned distinguishing those from the longer term rehabilitation problems. He considered it essential that some organization be established as soon as possible to deal with this phase of the problem. He felt that if too much time were lost in discussing phraseology or legal terms of a general agreement the more rapid development of the war would mean that relief problems on a large scale would have to be faced before any organization had been set up. Consequently he thought that the postponement of the United Nations meeting to October was most unfortunate and urged that the meeting be convened at an earlier date to draw up a program which although it might [not?] be perfect could be amended later as conditions required. [Murphy.]