851.01/3987: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:33 p.m.]
4835. Personal for the President and Secretary only. This afternoon Eden called to say that he had just said goodbye to de Gaulle, who is returning to Algiers. He told me that he found him more reasonable than at any time he had seen him. I think this was due in part to the friendly welcome he got from the French in Bayeux and elsewhere which gave him confidence and also because of a stern and realistic talk General Marshall had yesterday afternoon with General Béthouart and Colonel Le Bel in the Embassy and which was reported to de Gaulle. De Gaulle told Eden that he was not holding out for recognition but that his concern was administration and the currency issue. He said that if these two matters could be settled he would throw in all the strength he had back of the commanding general. He also said that criticism in the press in Algiers had been unfortunate and that he would try to correct it. De Gaulle still intends to go on to Washington.
Eden told me that he feels that it will be possible to work out an arrangement that will be acceptable. At any rate his office is trying their hand at it and as soon as a draft is formulated he will forward it for your consideration. I sincerely hope that a satisfactory formula can be found.
I hope you noted in an Embassy telegram28 sent this morning that an effort to override the Prime Minister’s request that debate on the French issue be postponed was defeated by 177 to 6.
On the military side Colonel Le Bel is being attached to General Bradley by General Eisenhower. This has General Marshall’s full support.
The French problem during these days of invasion has taken up a great deal of time. It was discussed at great length at Chequers by [Page 715] the Prime Minister, General Smuts and Eden with General Marshall and myself last week end. I spent an evening discussing it with our Chiefs of Staff and had talks with General Eisenhower and General Bedell Smith28a as well as meetings this week with the Prime Minister and Eden. I believe that an unnecessary crisis in the British Government has been avoided and that the question is under reasonable control for the time being.