Evening star., 1944-06-25
/. SIDE Gaulle Relations
Strained Over Invasion Rule
Unrestricted Power for Eisenhower as War
Needs Indicate, With Civilian Affairs
Left to French, American Policy
By Joseph II. Baird.

the authority of the French committee,
had seized the two islands of ST Pierre
and Miquelon, off Labrador, and held a
plebesite, which he announced showed
SO per cent of the population in favor of
Free French administration.
InaSmuch as the admiral had been in
Canada and the United States shortly
before his action and might be pre-
sumed to have had American encour-
agement, the State Department declared
publicly that the coup was IAN arbi-
trary action taken contrary to the
agreement of all parties concerned and
was certainly without the prior knowl-
edge or consent in any sense of the
United States"
However, the United States took no
further action in the matter, and the
Free French remained in control of
the islands. The incident however,
did not improve relations between
Washington and Gen. de Gaulle.
Relations Improved Somewhat.
During the summer of 1912, while the
invasion of North Africa was being
planned, the United States took steps
to improve its contacts with the French
group in London On July 9, the Presi-
dent named Admiral Harold Stark and
Brig. Gen. Charles L. Botte as repre-
sentatives accredited to Gen. de Gaulle
on matters relating to the conduct of
the war" The general thereafter ex-
pressed himself as being most graft
fed" Later, in October, Mr.. Roosevelt
made another cordial gesture, instruct
ing Edward r. Stettinius, then lease
lend administrator, to give aid directly
to the French committee. Previously
they had been receiving American sup
plies through retransfer from the
British.
However, the entente cordiale which
had been developing during the summer
was shattered in the fall when, on No.
vember 7, Anglo-American forces in
vaded North Africa without prior con-
sultation with the French National
Committee.
Presumably American and British
military authorities were doubtful that
Gen. de Gaulle had sufficient follow
ing among the French in North Africa
to guarantee the swinging of the troops
there over to the Allied side. 1t has al
ways been understood that the failure
of the British and American military
authorities to notify the De Gaulle
group of the intended invasion was
based on fear that their plans might
leak out to the Germans If they were
too generally known.
Darlan and Giraud Chosen.
At any rate, the American and British
military authorities chose Admiral Jean
Darlan, once commander of the French
fleet. and Gen. Henri H. Giraud, who
had escaped from a German prison
camp, as their key French collaboration
lists to swing over French forces in
North Africa to their side.
This delicate task was successfully
accomplished by the two Frenchmen
after Gen. Mark Clark had made a
secret visit to North Africa to insure
collaboration. Political preparations
for the invasion also were aided by very
careful spade work done by Robert D.
Murphy, American Consul General in
Algiers.
Gen. de Gaulle appears to have been
deeply angered by the failure of Great
Britain and America to consult him
about the invasion. Shortly after our
troops had landed, he issued a state
ment criticizing America for negoti-
ating with Admiral Darlan and declared
that his committee would not recognize
any arrangements made for the military
control of North Africa.
The situation was unexpectedly eased
by the assassination of Admiral Darlan
on Christmas Day, 1912, when he was
succeeded as French high commissioner
by Gen. Giraud. Gen. de Gaulle ap-
pears to have regarded Admiral Darlan
as collaborationist with the Germans
because of his former attachment to
the Vichy government, charge that
could hardly be leveled at Gen. Giraud
Even after Gen. Giraud's accession to
power, relations between him and the
French in London were hardly cordial,
and De Gaullists throughout the world
kept up stream of criticism of the
United States for ignoring Gen. de
Gaulle in the invasion plans.
Aid for 300,0OO.
The immediate policy of both the
United States and Great Britain after
the inVa Siop of North friro v,oe to y>ro
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