Foreign Relations of the United States, The Conferences at Washington, 1941–1942, and Casablanca, 1943

Roosevelt Papers

The Coordinator of Information (Donovan) to the President

[Washington,] January 5, 1942.

Memorandum for the President

No. 129. The following is a copy of a cablegram which I have just received from our representative in Cairo:

“For Donovan only. Do not repeat until you hear from the President. Plans are being discussed here for French North Africa, involving every phase of propaganda needing printing and radio equipment in large quantities, also extensive carefully-selected personnel and organization, as anything British is poison to the French. This effort will have to be strictly an American one, as written reports on the way show British technical equipment to be very scarce. Will you cable details as available, so we can inform people here of our ability to meet requirements. You in Washington will know immediately whether recommendations and general plans being forwarded to the President are rejected or accepted.”