851.01/2247: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 11—2:38 a.m.]
1079. For the President and Secretary from Murphy. According to Catroux after conversation with de Gaulle, latters reasons for tendering resignation in writing to Committee are: [Page 147]
- 1.
- Difficulties he experiences in working out within the Committee a solution satisfactory to him of problems of reorganization especially the French military establishment.
- 2.
- Lack of confidence Allies show in him as evidenced, for example, by delay in departure from England of some of his associates, and
- 3.
- Violent dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister’s declaration in the House of Commons which he asserts disregards French rights and interests.
Catroux told de Gaulle, he said, that it was impossible that he resign now because such action would be detrimental to French interests. It might lead, he said, to a situation where the Allies would be obliged to step in and take charge and would in any event excite world opinion.
There was an informal meeting this morning of several members of the Committee. Giraud proposed to accept the resignation at once but the decision was taken only to acknowledge the communication and call a meeting of the Committee at 10 o’clock Friday.54 In the interval an effort will be made to draft a formula regarding the Commissioner for National Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the French Forces. Monnet and several others are working on that now.
Macmillan is seeing de Gaulle this afternoon and will inform him of the impending arrival of a high British personality in Algiers this week-end. He feels he should do this as he so informed Giraud this morning. Macmillan will point out that de Gaulle’s action is hasty and ill-advised and that it might have serious consequences.
General Eisenhower, Admiral Cunningham and I discussed this question early today deciding that no action on our part at the moment is indicated and that if approached by de Gaulle, Eisenhower’s position will be that in view of the tacit approval of the British and American Governments of the formation of the French Committee that the Allied authorities must deal with that Committee as distinguished from any individual member thereof. [Murphy.]
- June 11.↩