740.00113 European War/1206: Telegram

The American Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Algiers (Wilson) to the Secretary of State

157. For Morgenthau from Johnson93 from Hoffman. The following message is for Secretary Morgenthau from Hoffman in reply to his personal message transmitted in Department’s 93, of December 9.

Section I. Following is in response to your request for report on developments in connection with Tunisian Jewish mortgage problem since receipt of your 2048 of November 2, which was not received by me until November 5.

I fully appreciate importance attached to this matter by Treasury.

Section II. Your point 1. Cable 2048 was discussed immediately with Royce94 and thereafter with Murphy and Wilson. After preliminary discussion position was embodied in letter which underwent several drafts as result of discussions which followed Treasury’s interest [Page 300] and statement of President’s position contained in State Department cable 1276 [1275] of July 9 were described and discussed in all of these conferences.

Section IIIe [sic]. Your point 2. I was advised by Murphy that delicate relations with Comité arising from Lebanese crisis95 made presentation of our views on a question of such political implications inadvisable at that time. Lack of British support was regarded as particularly unfortunate at that time and it was hoped that answer from London might be received in a few days. In view of these considerations I agreed with Murphy to defer action temporarily provided our views, even without British support, would be presented to French in a few days and before they took independent action. At this time our 203596 was dispatched. You are correct in your understanding that French were anxious to receive our views.

Section IV. Your point 3. Our 2035 was signed November 18. Delay in responding your 2048 due first to my expectation of prompt response from London in view paragraph 6 your 2048 and to necessity of completion of analysis and discussion with French of war damage legislation reported our BOC 171897 in order to determine relation between your proposals and action already taken by French. Delay these causes about one week. Subsequent delay due to discussions referred to in Sections II and III above. Cable 2035 dispatched immediately upon clarification of situation referred to in Section III above.

Section V. After a few days matter was raised again with Royce. Ambassador Wilson’s98 appointment was announced November 22 and it was felt desirable to discuss matter with him. After consultation with Wilson we advised Commissariat of Finance on November 26 that we were prepared to present our views. Views were presented to Mendes-France99 on November 29 by Royce and Hoffman orally and in form of unsigned memorandum embodying complete position taken in 2048 copy of which has been forwarded Treasury. Mendes-France advised us that he would have an answer in a few days but desired consult with Cartry, Director Finance, Tunis, before giving his views. I was advised on December 13 by Mendes-France that Cartry has just arrived and that he hopes to give us French response later this week. [Johnson; Hoffman.]

Wilson
  1. Harold F. Johnson, temporary officer on special detail, North African Economic Board.
  2. Alexander Royce, Director of War Economic Operations for North and West Africa.
  3. For correspondence on this subject, see vol. iv, pp. 996 ff.
  4. See footnote 85, p. 296.
  5. Dated November 21, not printed.
  6. Edwin C. Wilson, American Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Algiers.
  7. Pierre Mendes-France, Minister of Finance, French Committee of National Liberation.