Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, General, Volume I

800.515/912: Telegram

The American Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Algiers (Wilson) to the Secretary of State

Algiers, December 9, 1943—11 a.m.
[Received 6:08 p.m.]

115. For Dunn.²⁸ Massigli²⁹ asked to see me and said he and the other members of Committee have been greatly disturbed over recent report received from Hoppenot³⁰ of a recent conversation with you³¹ which dealt particularly with question of type of currency to be used by Allied forces in France. Report was to effect that War Department insisted on using Allied military currency. Massigli said he feared it would be a serious mistake from psychological point of view to use Allied military currency as had been done in Italy, an enemy country. Hoppenot reported that you had explained Allies could not use currency with “French Committee” on it because Committee was not a government. Massigli said he appreciated our point of view but hoped very much that some type of currency would be used which would get away from the appearance of that employed in the occupation of enemy territory.

In the course of a conversation with De Menthon, Commissioner of Justice, who is charged with drafting the Committee’s plans for civil government in France, he also referred to the report of the conversation with you, saying he felt that we perhaps did not appreciate how deeply the French people would be affected by the appearance of something like occupation currency and that he most devoutly hoped we would reconsider the matter.

I had a conversation last night with General Kirby³² who is passing through here from Cairo to London and who said that he had recently discussed this currency matter with McCloy.³³ Kirby said the British position is that they are prepared to agree either to Allied military currency or to currency bearing the inscription “French Republic” (with, of course, no mention of the French Committee) provided the French Committee would accept one of these alternatives and support the currency issued.

I have received no information directly from you regarding our attitude in this matter nor the consideration concerning it which we may regard as controlling. I am convinced, however, that it would in fact be a great mistake for us to use a form of Allied military currency in France which would have the appearance of occupation currency. The French Committee would never accept such currency and unquestionably misunderstanding and resentment would be caused by its use among the French people. If, as I presume is the case, it is important to obtain the agreement of the French Committee so that the latter would redeem the currency I am of the opinion that the Committee could be brought to abandon its pretension that the currency used should bear the words “French Committee” and to agree to the use of the words “French Republic” with no mention of the Committee.

I should greatly appreciate information and instructions as to the line to take in any further conversations here.

Wilson

28. James C. Dunn, Adviser on Political Relations.
29. René Massigli, Commissioner for Foreign Affairs of the French Committee of National Liberation.
30. Henri Hoppenot, Delegate of the French Committee of National Liberation.
31. No record of such a conversation found in Department files.
32. Maj. Gen. Stanley Woodburn Kirby, British Army, Director of Civil Affairs, War Office, 1943–44.
33. John J. McCloy, Assistant Secretary of War.