851.01/1069: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 19—1:17 a.m.]
422. From Murphy for the President [and] Secretary of State. The de Gaulle mission informed us last night that in response to [Page 75] Giraud’s message (see my 400, March 167) de Gaulle now plans to come himself to Algiers as soon as possible for direct talks with Giraud and that Catroux will not arrive until de Gaulle has reached Algiers.
From our conversations with the members of his mission it is clear that the purpose of de Gaulle’s visit is to endeavor to establish his leadership of any United French movement. The mission is further saying now that Giraud has set forth the principles on which unity can be based and has demonstrated he does not desire to retain political leadership there should be no reason why de Gaulle cannot assume control. He would leave Giraud in the position of military commander. The basis of de Gaulle’s leadership would then be the establishment under his direction of a provisional government of France probably in Algiers. Regardless of the fact that Giraud has now made it clear that no such provisional government can be established except by the French people themselves when they are able freely to express their will, this important aspect of his speech is either being overlooked or deliberately discounted by the de Gaulle mission. In their talks here they are emphasizing that Giraud’s break with Vichy and return to the democratic principles of France mean that he has formally accepted de Gaulle’s principles and there are no longer any differences between them except those involving personalities.
The Gaullists are now considering the possibility of making use of the five or six former French Senators and Deputies who are outside of France as a form of provisional assembly to constitute the nucleus of the future government of France. Vallin of the de Gaulle mission has established contact with Flandin8 and both are apparently active in promoting the foregoing ideas.
It is clear that any such proposals will conflict with the basic principle, now recognized by Giraud, that no form of government of France, provisional or otherwise, can be set up until the French people are free to exercise their own choice; but it is easy to see that in the course of the conversations between Giraud and de Gaulle the latter will not spare any effort to bring about the creation of a provisional government. I assume you wish me to support Giraud in endeavoring to bring about fusion on the only possible basis which can insure lasting unity and preservation of the principles of the Atlantic Charter; namely that until France has been liberated French interests can only be grouped under temporary trusteeships which exercise jurisdiction over territories which they control in the name of the French people. Such trusteeships must be governed by the [Page 76] traditional French, principles of liberty and democracy and return to the laws of the Republic.
I should be grateful for your instructions in this respect.
Repeated to American Embassy London for Matthews. [Murphy.]
- Not printed; this telegram quoted General Giraud’s message of March 15 to General Catroux in which he expressed his desire for unity of French Forces and an understanding with General de Gaulle (851R.01/306).↩
- Pierre Etienne Flandin had served in several French Cabinet posts and was Premier 1934–35: he was Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Vichy Government December 1940–February 1941.↩