851.01/3847: Telegram
The Acting American Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Algiers (Chapin) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:28 p.m.]
1732. From Murphy. My telegram No. 1584, May 16, 2 p.m. Notwithstanding de Gaulle’s statement in the Consultative Assembly on May 15 to the effect that France did not consider herself bound by the Clark–Darlan Agreement, there has been continued progress in the work of the revision of that agreement both in AFHQ and within the informal American-British-French Committee. At a meeting of the committee Tuesday90 the French representative made clear that de Gaulle’s statement would not lead to any interruption in the discussions regarding revision and he accepted for reference to the French military authorities the proposed revised texts of the military clauses which had been prepared in AFHQ. Another meeting of the [Page 691] informal committee is to be held when the French have completed their study of the military clauses.
The latest development is that the Supreme Allied Command has approved the recommendation that article XVII91 be dropped. [Murphy.]
- May 23.↩
- “XVII—If the internal situation at any time be such as in his opinion to endanger his lines of communication or threaten disorder the Commanding General, United States Army will inform the French authorities of such danger and the French authorities will undertake, in concert with him, such administrative and other measures as may be necessary for the protection of the military interests of the forces under his command and supporting forces.” Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. ii, pp. 453, 456.↩