851.01/2269: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:32 p.m.]
1092. For the Secretary and Under Secretary from Murphy. The text in translation of the letter of June 9 addressed by General de Gaulle to the members of the French Committee of National Liberation on requesting that he be considered no longer a member or President thereof is as follows:
“A week ago today, with a view to directing the French war effort, we accomplished a so-called unity and set up the French Committee of National Liberation affirming that this Committee will take the place of a French Government.
Since that date everything shows that ‘unity’ does not exist and that there is in fact no government.
What is more, we see a state of anarchy in civil and military matters of which certain intriguing demoniacs, devotees of Vichy or even enemy agents, all in office or at least having freedom of action, take advantage to practice sabotage and constantly to create an atmosphere of ‘Putsch’.
The slightest questions which should be settled in a few minutes and immediately be put into effect involve us in discussions as interminable as they are unpleasant.
Thus we have not even been able to settle, in the military field, the problem involving the respective powers of the Government and of the High Command the logical and national solution of which is self-evident.
Furthermore the Allies are behaving in our regard in a manner which might cause us to doubt the extent of the ability which they attribute to our ‘committee’ to represent the interests of France and to exercise the necessary authority.
These conditions do not accord with the responsibilities which I feel I carry in this war with respect to my country by virtue of the confidence of a very great number of Frenchmen.
[Page 152]I would therefore be failing in my duty if I should any longer associate myself with the labors of the French Committee of National Liberation in the conditions under which it is functioning. I consequently request you to consider that I am no longer either a member or President thereof.”
Wiley