851.01/2198: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 4—12:56 a.m.]
1032. From Murphy. The Executive Committee met this morning. Formal notification of the constitution of the Committee has not yet been made but will be issued this afternoon. I am informed that certain decisions were taken regarding personnel among which are the appointment of Georges as Governor General of Algeria [Page 133] (see my 1030, June 3, 3 p.m.42), the replacement of General Mendigal by General Bouscat, recently head of the Giraud mission to London, and the appointment of Gabriel Puaux to replace General Noguès as Resident General of French Morocco.
The Committee is scheduled to convene tomorrow morning and on the agenda is the question of the Commander-in-Chief of French Forces. Giraud declared that if such a decision is taken he will retire which of course would please de Gaulle immensely. Bethouart43 expressed the opinion that the French North African Army will not accept de Gaulle’s leadership.
On the agenda also is the discussion of Boisson’s possible replacement.
De Gaulle also made an oral declaration in the Committee denying that he was endeavoring to establish a totalitarian political system in France under his personal leadership (see my 1028, June 2, 10 p.m.). He made no written reply to Giraud’s letter.
It is understood that de Gaulle also insisted that General Bergeret now commanding a small aviation unit at Dakar be eliminated.
To Department. To London repeated. [Murphy.]