President Roosevelt to the Commander in Chief, Allied Expeditionary Force, North Africa (Eisenhower)52
I request that you deliver the following message from yourself orally to General Giraud and to General de Gaulle as nearly simultaneously as possible.
“You will recall that we have consulted together for the final destruction of Axis forces in North Africa and the liberation and restoration of France as a great nation. In the first phase of this we have been successful. The second phase is still before us. I feel because of our common cause, I should continue to convey my views from time to time both to General Giraud and General de Gaulle as frankly in the future as in the past, particularly upon the happy announcement of the formation of the French Committee of National Liberation.
It is in this spirit that I am expressing to you a concern over reports reaching me, but I may add, happily unconfirmed, that the Council may possibly be giving consideration to the removal of Governor General Boisson from his post in West Africa. In view of Governor General Boisson’s ability as an able French administrator, such action would be contrary to the very aims we have in view, and I hope to receive reassurances from the French Committee of National Liberation that these reports as to General Boisson’s future are indeed unfounded.”
I trust you will agree with this. It is inconceivable to me that in view of the uncertainty of de Gaulle’s future attitude French West [Page 146] Africa should come under his domination. Please read my message to Prime Minister53 with special regard to your sending troops there.
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Copy obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y. Notation indicated that it was released from the White House Map Room at 6:30 p.m. Eastern War Time, June 10, 1943. This message was sent to Algiers as War Department telegram Freedom 9985.
In a memorandum of the same date Under Secretary Welles with the concurrence of Secretary Hull had sent to President Roosevelt a suggested instruction for General Eisenhower (851T.001/13). No copy of this suggested instruction has been found in Department files. The Roosevelt Library, however, does contain a telegram, drafted in the State Department, with manuscript corrections by President Roosevelt which make it identical with the copy here printed.
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President Roosevelt, simultaneously with this telegram, sent telegram No. 281 to Prime Minister Churchill in which he quoted both telegram No. 1069, June 9, from Algiers, and this telegram to General Eisenhower. Following the quotation of these messages, the President appended this comment to the Prime Minister:
“I think this whole matter of de Gaulle domination of Dakar is too serious for me to remain quiescent. Neither you nor I know just where de Gaulle will end up.
“Therefore I find it impossible to consider any de Gaulle domination of French West Africa.
“This is so serious that I should have to consider sending several regiments to Dakar and also naval vessels if there were any sign that de Gaulle proposes to take things over in French West Africa. Such things would be highly unfortunate.
“Finally, I cannot feel happy unless Giraud has complete control of the French Army in North Africa. Control by de Gaulle would create a definitely uneasy feeling about the safety of the rear of the British and American positions, the line of supply and the adequacy of British and American forces left for the protection of the rear.”
On the following day, Prime Minister Churchill’s telegram No. 306 to President Roosevelt gave the following reply:
“Your No. 281. His Majesty’s Government are in full agreement with you on all points, and we are instructing Macmillan accordingly.”
Copies of telegrams No. 281 and No. 306 obtained from Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y.
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