851.01/2204: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:59 p.m.]
1037. For the Under Secretary from Murphy. I have had several talks with Bethouart. He told me about your message to Giraud.45 Giraud also has mentioned it to me and has told several people about the receipt of the message.
Monnet asked urgently to see me early this morning and said that he believes that you should know that your message is being interpreted by Giraud that the U.S. Government will support him come what may.
The principal item on the agenda of the Committee in its morning’s meeting is the status of the CinC of the French Forces. Giraud’s position is that he will insist on the retention of this command in addition to his status as co-President of the Committee. Monnet informs me that Giraud can command a majority of the Committee on this point if he agrees that a reorganization and modification [modernization?] of the French Army should be undertaken. Monnet deplores [Page 136] that Giraud has not already taken initiative in this direction and says that it will be fatal for Giraud if he refuses to do so.
I informed Giraud this morning that there is no change in our attitude and that we wanted to give him wholehearted support but that did not presume a purely negative attitude on his part. I referred co my many conversations with him over a period of months in which I urged him to make changes as he went along, not only in the military establishment but in the civil administration, thus obtaining full credit for the improvements and liberation which he accomplished. I again urged him this morning to take and keep this initiative in these matters rather than permit the de Gaulle faction to seize credit.
I should be grateful if you would inform me of the text of the message sent by you to Giraud via Bethouart in order that I may adhere to the line which you have apparently laid down.
I am continuing to press for action on the Jewish legislation which, of course, will now be considered by the Executive Committee. [Murphy.]