851.86/76: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Matthews) to the Secretary of State
London, March 15,
1943—4 p.m.
[Received 7:29 p.m.]
1828. Embassy’s telegram no. 1616, March 5, midnight. Admiral Stark has
requested that the following telegram be sent to the Department:
- “1. Have discussed further with General de Gaulle problems
involved in acceptance by Fighting France of enlistment in
American ports of men from French ships from North
Africa.
- 2. De Gaulle recognizes impossibility of permitting delays
in sailings for North Africa, insists on the difficulties
both of a moral and a material order for Fighting France of
refusing to accept such enlistments, and refuses to consider
as deserters men transferring from one French service to
another French service.
- 3. Instructions being sent Catroux to discuss with Giraud
terms of immediate agreement on organization of French
forces in the war to permit initial transfer between various
services of officers and men desiring to transfer either
from North African forces to Fighting French units or vice
versa.
- 4. Pending such agreement de Gaulle reaffirms proposals in
Massigli letter of March 3 summarized in Embassy telegram
no. 1616 March 5, 12 p.m., to State Department. First he
insists that in case of naval vessels in American ports for
refitting spontaneous offers of ratings and men from such
vessels to join Fighting France be accepted and asks
American authorities to avoid treating men as deserters by
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arresting or
returning them by force to ships. He recognizes need for
agreement which will assure full complement upon completion
of rent. General de Gaulle remarked that neither American
procedures nor international law had ever foreseen the
present exceptional situation of France and especially the
naval position of those sailors who were recently ordered by
their officers to fight the allies of France and who are not
certain of the will of certain of these officers to lead
them legally in battle against the enemy.
- 5. I explained to de Gaulle impossibility for American
naval officers to connive at desertion of naval personnel
from their vessels or recognize legitimacy of transfers of
men not authorized by their own commanders and urged he come
to an immediate understanding with Giraud with suspension of
acceptance of such naval ratings as recruits during
negotiations under way.
- 6. Second in case of war vessels engaged in active
operations or of merchant or naval supply ships, required to
return immediately with cargoes for North Africa de Gaulle
proposed to order Fighting French recruits from such vessels
to make return voyage, with understanding they be permitted
on arrival in North African port to leave their ships to
join Fighting French forces. De Gaulle’s agreement is
conditional on guarantees being given that these men may
join Fighting French after arrival in North Africa. He would
send representatives with such ships to North Africa to
insure observance of guarantees. I urged that important
object was to keep ships running subordinating other
questions to this. General de Gaulle said he fully
recognized the importance of the question of transport but
could not overlook the grave moral and national problem
raised by the position of these sailors.
- Third, if large proportion or whole crew of ship wish to
join Fighting France, de Gaulle proposes his representatives
provide necessary officers and men for return journey to
North Africa, again on condition that they be permitted to
rejoin their own service on arrival.”
Admiral Stark informs me that the foregoing text was submitted to and
approved by General de Gaulle. Admiral Stark had suggested that
acceptance of recruits from French ships from North Africa should be
suspended pending conclusion of negotiations with Giraud for a general
agreement covering transfers of personnel. In the case of men wishing to
join Fighting France but prepared to remain on their ships for the
return journey from United States ports to Africa the Admiral suggested
arrangements might be made on their arrival in Africa to opt for
transfer to Fighting France. He further suggested guarantees would be
given that they might then be transported to a Fighting French base. In
his conversation with Admiral Stark, General de Gaulle agreed to these
suggestions but when the Admiral’s proposed cable was submitted to him
he “welshed” (the expression is Kittredge’s58) and insisted that men wishing to join Fighting France
should be actually enrolled before returning to Africa.
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I am told, incidentally, that during the past week some dozen members of
Fighting French Air Force, Army and Navy have approached Admiral Stark
to ascertain whether some arrangements can not be made to permit them to
join Giraud’s North African forces. There is no doubt in Kittredge’s
mind that large numbers of Fighting French officer and enlisted
personnel are fed up with their organization and are eager to join the
North African forces. While publicity has now been given here to the
“wholesale desertions” from the Richelieu and
other French ships in American ports, no whisper has appeared in the
British press of growing dissatisfaction within the Fighting French
forces.
