F. D. ROOSEVELT'S STATEMENT ON NORTH AFRICAN POLICY
November 17, 1942
(Department of State Bulletin, Vol VII, p.935)
(President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Statement on Political
Arrangements in North Africa made by Lieut. Dwight D.
Eisenhower, Allied Commander in Chief in North Africa.
I have accepted General Eisenhower's political
arrangements made for the time being in Northern and Western
Africa.
I thoroughly understand and approve the feeling in the
United States and Great Britain and among all the other
United Nations that in view of the history of the past two
years no permanent arrangement should be made with Admiral
Darlan. People in the United Nations likewise would never
understand the recognition of a reconstituting of the Vichy
Government in France or in any French territory.
We are opposed to Frenchmen who support Hitler and the
Axis. No one in our Army has any authority to discuss the
future Government of France and the French Empire.
The future French Government will be established-not by
any individual in metropolitan France or overseas-but by the
French people themselves after they have been set free by the
victory of the United Nations.
The present temporary arrangement in North and West
Africa is only a temporary expedient, justified solely by the
stress of battle.
The present temporary arrangement has accomplished two
military objectives. The first was to save American and
British lives on the one hand, and French lives on the other
hand.
The second was the vital factor of time. The temporary
arrangement has made it possible to avoid a "mopping up"
period in Algiers and Morocco which might have taken a month
or two to consummate. Such a period would have delayed the
concentration for the attack from the West on Tunis, and we
hope on Tripoli.
Every day of delay in the current operation would have
enabled the Germans and Italians to build up a strong
resistance, to dig in and make a huge operation on our part
essential before we could win. Here again, many more lives
will be saved under the present speedy offensive, than if we
had had to delay it for a month or more.
It will also be noted that French troops, under the
command of General Giraud, have already been in action against
the enemy in Tunisia, fighting by the side of American and
British soldiers for the liberation of their country.
Admiral Darlan's proclamation assisted in making a
"mopping up" period unnecessary. Temporary arrangements made
with Admiral Darlan apply, without exception, to the current
local situation only.
I have requested the liberation of all persons in
Northern Africa who had been imprisoned because they opposed
the efforts of the Nazis to dominate the world, and I have
asked for the abrogation of all laws and decrees inspired by
Nazi Governments or Nazi idealogies. Reports indicate that
the French of North Africa are subordinating all political
questions to the formation of a common front against the
common enemy.
