Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1943, The British Commonwealth, Eastern Europe, the Far East, Volume III

740.0011 European War 1939/26973

Memorandum by Mr. Charles E. Bohlen of the Division of European Affairs²

[Washington,] January 7, 1943.

I would like again to emphasize the importance of keeping the Soviet Union fully informed in regard to our policies and intentions in North Africa. The one time we did so which was now a month ago³ the results were very encouraging, and as you will recall Molotov told Henderson that the Soviet Government was entirely satisfied with our policy in North Africa in regard to Darlan.⁴ Since that date, December 7, we have passed on no information whatsoever to the Soviet Government, whereas the British have on two different occasions, of which the attached telegram from Kuibyshev reports the latest,⁵ given Molotov a full account of the situation as viewed by the British Government.

If the Soviet Government obtains any impression that we are deliberately leaving them out in regard to North Africa while the British are keeping them fully informed, the Soviet Government may tend to view the entire situation through British eyes and we will almost certainly lose the good start that was made when Henderson saw Molotov. Furthermore, a great deal of the criticism of the Darlan arrangement and our policy in North Africa has come in this country and in England from groups who are responsive, to say the least, to the views of the Soviet Government. If we can continue to keep the Soviet Government informed and in general agreement with us in regard to North Africa, sooner or later Soviet approval will have its effect on the views of left wing groups which heretofore have been critical of our policy.

I feel, therefore, that it is very important particularly now that the Ambassador is back⁶ that we should send some information to the Ambassador for transmission to the Soviet Government.⁷

2. Addressed to the Assistant Chief (Reber) and the Acting Chief (Atherton) of the Division of European Affairs, and to the Adviser on Political Relations (Dunn).
3. The discussion between the Chargé in the Soviet Union (Henderson) and the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov, in regard to American policy in North Africa occurred on December 15, 1942. For correspondence pertaining to this conversation, see telegram No. 620, December 9, 1942, to the Chargé in the Soviet Union, and telegrams No. 1082, December 11, 1942, from Kuibyshev, and No. 537, December 15, 1942, from Moscow, Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. iii, pp. 482, 483, and 484, respectively. For correspondence regarding the situation in North Africa, see ibid., vol. ii, pp. 224 ff.
4. Adm. Jean François Darlan, Vice President of the French Council of Ministers, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Navy, and Defense of the Vichy Government of France from February 1941. On December 1, 1942, he assumed the powers of Chief of State in French Africa “as representative of Marshal Pétain, who is at present a prisoner,” describing himself as the High Commissioner for the French Empire. He was assassinated on December 24, 1942.
5. Telegram No. 19, January 5, 2 p.m., from the Chargé in the Soviet Union, not printed.
6. Adm. William H. Standley had returned to Moscow from a trip to the United States, and had a conversation with Molotov on January 13; see memorandum by the Second Secretary of Embassy in the Soviet Union, January 13, p. 617.
7. The Department sent information regarding conditions and developments in North Africa in telegram No. 19, January 9, which Ambassador Standley gave to Molotov during his conversation of January 13. The telegram concluded: “In its relations with General Giraud [Commander in Chief of the French forces in North Africa] the United States Government has been influenced by the primary necessities of the military situation and the accomplishments of its supreme objective, namely the defeat of the Axis powers. In the achievement of that objective it welcomes the cooperation of all elements of French resistance. The American military authorities are dealing with the French authorities in North Africa under General Giraud upon the basis of the aid and support which those authorities have undertaken to furnish the forces of the United Nations. This Gov’t desires wholeheartedly to support and maintain French administration in the French territories on the basis of their contribution to the military effort and to the restoration of the traditions of the French people.” (740.0011 European War 1939/26973)