851.515/211: Telegram
The Acting American Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Algiers (Chapin) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 13—10:23 a.m.]
1981. From Murphy. Your 1840, June 11. I have just had a talk with Mendes-France with whom I had an appointment today prior to the receipt of your telegram. He said that he plans to await the return here of General de Gaulle because he believes that if given an opportunity to make an oral report to de Gaulle regarding his conversations at Washington de Gaulle’s understanding of the entire matter would be improved. He anticipates de Gaulle’s return shortly.
In this connection he expressed regret that his departure from Washington was delayed—said that he had cancelled his reservation on a War Department plane leaving May 20 and subsequently, notwithstanding [Page 710] McCloy’s intervention in his behalf, he was obliged to wait from May 24 to June 2. This caused him to miss de Gaulle who had departed from Algiers for London prior to Mendes-France’s arrival. He believes he could have helped de Gaulle to a better understanding of the financial problem. [Murphy.]