851.01/2283: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 17—1:23 a.m.]
1108. For the President and the Secretary from Murphy. A situation has developed in which General Eisenhower and I should have guidance. Yesterday morning we were informed for the first time of the issuance of a number of decrees dated June 7 which enlarged the membership of the French Committee of National Liberation from 7 to 14 persons. The membership in our opinion insures supremacy to de Gaulle.
Giraud informs me that he signed the decrees as co-President on the recommendation of Monnet and not understanding that the enlarged Committee became the repository of power over all affairs both civil and military. He believed up to this morning that the original Committee of 7 would automatically become the subcommittee of war which would determine all questions relating to the conduct of the war. However, there is nothing in any of the decrees signed thus far to support his opinion.
General Giraud informed me this morning that in his opinion Monnet has betrayed him. As you know I have worked closely with Monnet and he has communicated to me daily the progress he was making. During the past week he has made no mention to me or Macmillan of the fact that he had persuaded General Giraud to sign the decrees increasing the membership of the Committee to 14 regardless of the fact that this was contrary to his own commitment. I reproached him with this yesterday but the reproach left him indifferent. It is obvious to us that things have gone to Monnet’s head and that he feels as strongly as possible like de Gaulle that French rights and sovereignty must be more aggressively asserted in respect of the Allies. He also seems to feel he can control the Committee whereas it is increasingly clear that he is being used by de Gaulle and will probably later be discarded.
De Gaulle having withdrawn his resignation now that the Committee is so constituted that he is assured of authority is insisting on a plenary meeting this afternoon at which might be discussed the [Page 153] question of the military establishment. I have suggested to Giraud that he refuse to permit this question to be decided until Eisenhower’s return here Friday. I am recommending that Eisenhower call in de Gaulle and Giraud and state to them clearly the American position as we understand it with particular reference to our military requirements and that it be made abundantly clear that in the light of recent developments it is necessary for the USA to review its present policy of rearmament of French Forces.
I have insisted with Giraud and he agrees that it would be disastrous for him to retire as he has been tempted to do and he has promised to make a determined stand insisting that the Committee agree that as CinC he remain as co-President until France is liberated. His present legal strength lies in the fact that no decree of the French Committee is valid without the signature of both President[s].
De Gaulle and Massigli came to Macmillan late last evening and asked him whether in his opinion our rearmament policy would be affected by de Gaulle’s dominance of the situation and other questions indicating uneasiness on their part. Macmillan refused, he says, to give an opinion stating that those would be questions for the CinC to answer. [Murphy.]