740.0011 (E. W.)/11–742: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the War Department 15
[Received October 31—midnight.]
No. 749. From Murphy. Personal for Leahy to be communicated immediately. I must appeal urgently to President and yourself on following because of grave political factors involved and time element: On Oct. 22 a secret conference was held between American and French officers in Algeria regarding Franco-American cooperation for Torch. This conference was requested by French months ago, ways and means of debarkation of American Forces in French North Africa in cooperation with French Army were discussed as also question whether General André [Henri] Giraud would accept command French and eventually Allied Forces in area. Question of authoritative French military leader is of essence. At conference no indication of our intentions regarding date of operation was supplied and French officers were left with impression that at least several weeks would intervene.
Confidential messenger was immediately despatched to France to inform Giraud who agreed in principle but Giraud is still ignorant of imminence of our intentions.
Messenger returned from France this evening bringing letter addressed to me by Giraud stating that American and French Armies in close liaison will assure final victory; also technical memorandum regarding Torch operation and his participation therein.
Messenger states positively that Giraud cannot depart from France by November 4 and Mast now fully supports this view. Latter points out after reflection that our proposition verges on the hostile because on October 22 Clark gave no intimation of date of Torch but did suggest that approximately 3 weeks would be required between departure of first convoys and landing. Therefore he concludes that our notification to him on Oct. 29 as instructed to effect that action is imminent and submarine already on way for Giraud although French are as yet only allowed to guess date of operation amounts virtually to ultimatum.
Mast proposes that we demonstrate some confidence in Giraud if we wish him as a partner and at least be willing to give him a reasonable number of days to organize what he considers the more important part of the operation that is France.
[Page 410]Mast and returned messenger who is a civilian with important contacts in French political and business world both insist that Giraud’s departure later in November will be a natural outgrowth of a rapidly disintegrating political situation evolving in our favor and thus Giraud will not be considered dissident. Giraud has taken residence in Marseille.
I am convinced that without French Army cooperation and the danger of its active opposition if we do not have French command with us that Torch may fail. I urgently recommend that it is not unreasonable that Giraud be given 3 weeks interval to perfect his metropolitan organization and arrange his departure with maximum advantage to us. Giraud is stated not to believe that Axis intervention is imminent and Mast asserts now that there is no indication of immediate Axis move. No one here doubts that Torch will lead to separation of Europe from Africa and total occupation of France. Therefore Giraud’s decision is a grave one and we should go as far as we can to cooperate with him. Please reply by radio urgently. [Murphy.]
- Copy supplied by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under cover of letter of September 7, 1960.↩