740.0011 European War 1939/28856
The Under Secretary of State (Welles) to the British Ambassador (Halifax)
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: Early in February, on his way home from Turkey by way of Algiers, the Prime Minister discussed and approved revised drafts of two memoranda22 covering certain phases of the Casablanca conversations, notably recognition of the extent of [Page 84] General Giraud’s trusteeship for certain French interests, together with other questions mostly of a military nature.
Instructions have been issued to Mr. Murphy in Algiers to the effect that the President has authorized the Department of State to approve the two revised memoranda subject to the following amendments.
Paragraph two of the first memorandum to read as follows, the words underlined23 being in substitution for the word “France” in the earlier draft:
“Two. The form of the relations between France and the United States of America, the post war consequences of the association of France and the United States in the fight against Germany, the military, economic and financial aid given to French North Africa, have all been defined in letters exchanged between the Consul, R. Murphy, in the name of President Roosevelt, and General Giraud, before the landing.”
Similarly, the following text of paragraph four of the first memorandum has been approved, the words underlined being added to the earlier draft:
“Four. In the interests of the French people, in order to safeguard France’s past, her present and her future, the President of the United States of America and the British Prime Minister attribute to the French Commander in Chief; with his headquarters at Algiers, the right and duty of acting as a trustee for French interests, military, economic and financial, in French territories which are associated or which hereafter become associated with the movement of liberation now established in French North and West Africa. They bind themselves to aid him in this task by all the means in their power.”
The second memorandum is approved provided the second paragraph thereof is omitted. It is felt that its accomplishment in detail is impossible at the present time and, furthermore, the essentials are fully covered in the paragraph which precedes it.
Very sincerely yours,