851T.01/13
The Under Secretary of State (Welles) to President Roosevelt
My Dear Mr. President: On his return from Dakar a short time ago, Admiral William A. Glassford, who headed the American Naval Mission to that city, expressed the strong opinion that it would be desirable to assign a high-ranking representative of the United States Government to French West Africa as soon as possible.2
Admiral Glassford stated that from both the political and economic point of view French West Africa was in urgent need of guidance in [Page 71] order that the fullest use might be made of its war potentialities. The French, he said, were willing to cooperate in the war effort of the United Nations, but required direction and support from an outside source if the proper degree of productivity were to be obtained. Governor General Boisson had indicated that this outside support should, by preference, be American.
Admiral Glassford also stressed the great importance of Dakar from the strategic viewpoint. He recalled your recent remarks to the effect that never again should Dakar constitute a threat to the Western Hemisphere, that it must remain in the hands of people who are friendly to us.3 With the development of the airplane, the significance of Dakar to the United States and the other American Republics can scarcely be exaggerated.
Under the energetic direction of Lord Swinton, the British Resident Minister at Accra, the British are at present rapidly building up a corps of economic specialists and experts at Dakar, with the obvious design of drawing French West Africa into the British orbit. Admiral Glassford feels that unless we are able to meet the expanding influence of Lord Swinton promptly and adequately, we shall inevitably lose the position which should belong to us at Dakar.
I believe that no better person could be found to represent this Government in French West Africa than Admiral Glassford himself. He enjoyed excellent relations with Governor General Boisson, and it is my impression that he would be doubly welcome were he to return as a counterweight to Lord Swinton at Accra. The fact that Admiral Glassford is a naval officer would undoubtedly add to his prestige at such an important French naval base as Dakar.
If you concur, Admiral Glassford might be asked to serve in French West Africa in the capacity above indicated and given the title of Personal Representative of the President, with the rank of Minister. May I have an indication of your views in this matter?
Faithfully yours,
- Under date of February 27, Admiral Glassford had sent a copy of his brief of the political and economic situation of French West Africa enclosed in a letter to the Adviser on Political Relations, Wallace Murray (851T.00/91).↩
- For the texts of two recent statements by President Roosevelt on Dakar, see Samuel I. Rosenman (ed.), The Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt: 1943 volume, The Tide Turns (New York, Harper and Brothers, 1950), pp. 51 and 87.↩