851.01/3958: Telegram
The Acting American Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Algiers (Chapin) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 14—8:51 a.m.]
1997. Department’s 1849, June 12, 8 p.m. In course of my conversation this morning with Massigli I asked if there was any news with regard to de Gaulle’s visit to United States. Massigli replied he had received a cable from de Gaulle instructing him to send a message to Hoppenot expressing appreciation for the opportunity to visit the United States. He said the matter would be discussed at a special meeting of the Committee this afternoon, but it was not necessary to take a vote of the Committee on de Gaulle’s visit.
Massigli appeared greatly concerned that there was little likelihood of laying the groundwork of an over-all political agreement between the United States and French authorities prior to General’s visit to the United States, a prerequisite in his opinion to a successful visit. He feared that without such a basis the differences between President Roosevelt and de Gaulle might even be widened.
I stated my conviction that the General’s visit would be most useful particularly in apprising the latter of our war effort and of general trend of public opinion in United States not only as regards conduct of the war in Europe but of the Far East and as respects postwar plans. I suggested that in any case we should not cross bridges before we came to them and expressed hope there would be no further declarations with regard to Allied currency for time being and that a period of détente might elapse until the visit to the President took place.