851.01/2284: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 17—1:22 a.m.]
1109. For the President and Secretary of State from Murphy. My 1108, June 16, 6 p.m. Giraud’s proposal for the organization of the French High Command follows as section II of this telegram. I understand that de Gaulle on the other hand stands for the constitution of a Commissioner of National Defense which position he desires. He would exercise the prerogatives attributed to the military committee described in article 2 and also some of the powers attributed to the CinC. It should also be noted that the full committee has the power to control the general conduct of the war.
After consultation with the Chief of Staff and Mr. Macmillan it was agreed that a joint démarche would be made this afternoon to Massigli asking him to inform all members of the Committee of National Liberation that the CinC would be glad of an opportunity to discuss the question of the command organization of the French Armed Forces personally with General Giraud and General de Gaulle and to explain clearly to them the military requirements which he feels should be satisfied in view of the large commitments and future [Page 154] obligations of the forces under his command. It is planned that this meeting should take place early next week as soon as General Eisenhower returns to Algiers, and should be limited to a discussion of the military position and the nature of the control of the French Armed Forces which is considered necessary.
Massigli has agreed to communicate this message to all members of the Committee prior to the meeting which is now scheduled to take place tomorrow morning.
(Section II)
Article 1. The French Committee of National Liberation is in charge of the general conduct of the war. It controls all of the land, naval and air forces. It is assisted in this by the War Committee constituted from within its midst and providing [provided?] for by article 2 of the decree of June 3, 1943.
Article 2. The Commander-in-Chief will exercise the command of all French land, sea and air [units?], stationed in France and outside of France. Consequently: he will direct and control the formation and instruction of the units with a view to their use as may be or has been provided for, either by the inter-Allied plans of operation, or by the plans for the defense or the security of the territories. He will allot armament.
He will participate with the inter-Allied Command in the establishment of the inter-Allied plans of operation.
He will fix the conditions for the distribution and the use of the French Forces in the various theaters of operation, taking into account the organization of the command in each of them.
Article 3. A general officer will be charged with coordinating the action of the chiefs of the general staffs of the land, sea and air forces, and they will be responsible for the organization, the administration and the maintenance of the armies in accordance with the decisions or directives of the permanent military committee which is the subject of article 4 below.
Article 4. The permanent military committee comprises: the co-Presidents of the French Committee of National Liberation; the Commissioner of Armament; the chiefs of the general staffs of the land, sea and air forces; eventually the general officer or officers designated to exercise an active command in a theater of operations.
The presidency of the committee is exercised by the Commander in Chief, and, in his absence, by the co-President of the National Committee of Liberation.
The permanent military committee has power of decision by virtue of the directives of the war committee on questions of organization and administration of the armies, in particular: budget of the armies; distribution of credits and resources among the three armies; armament [Page 155] plan; reforms in the structure of the armies (fusion, rejuvenation of the cadres, modernization of the armies, regulations regarding personnel, etc. etc.); promotions and assignments in general officers and corps commanders.
Article 5. Until the provisional government is constituted the Commander-in-Chief remains co-President of the French Committee of National Liberation.
Should he take an active command at the front, he will be replaced in the Committee by one of the commissioners remaining at the seat of the central power. [Murphy.]