The american duplicity vis-a-vis the colonial problem of the Maghreb during the second world war
Abstract
This article attempts to show the American Government’s duplicity towards the North African colonial problem during the Second World war. This duplicity is to be examined in the approach of the American Government to Vichy France colonial authorities and North African nationalists during the preparation of the invasion of North Africa and during the presence of the Anglo-American expeditionary forces in this area.
Indeed, duplicity and realpolitic were the essence of the policy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his close collaborators, who, above all, wanted to insure the security of their troops during their passage in North Africa. It is in this perspective that President Roosevelt’s representatives, in Vichy and Algiers promised to restore France in its pre-war integrity; while, at the same time, the American president, associated himself with the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, in issuing The Atlantic Charter in which occupied countries and colonised peoples were promised self-determination and freedom.
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References
Farmer, Paul, "Vichy : Political Dilemma", Columbia University Press, N.Y., 1965, p. 193
F.O 371/31910, Gascoigne N. 285, From Tangier to Foreign Office April 26, 1942
Murphy, Robert, "Diplomat Among Warriors", London, 1964, p. 97
Kaddache Mahfoud, "L’opinion politique musulmane en Algérie et l’administration française (1939-1942)", Revue d’histoire de la deuxième guerre mondiale, n°114, Avril 1979, p. 110.
F.O. (United Kingdom) 371/31914, A note written by Moulay Larbi el Alaoui, Khalifa of the Pasha of Marakesh, on the ideas of American propagandan in Morocco.
FO ( UK ) 371/31914, Notes written by Sidi Mehdi el Glaoui, Second son of the Pasha
Ibid.
Ibid.
F.R.U.S Vol. II, Europe, p. 319
Pendar Kennet, "Adventure in Diplomacy", Cassel, London, 1966, p.43.
Abbas, Ferhat, "Guerre et révolution d’Algérie", Juliard, Paris, 1962.
F.O 371/31912 Z 5552/17 1ST July 1942, Mr Murphy’s visit to French Morocco and Tunisia
Underlined in the text.
F.O 371/31909, L 318/25/17 of January 22, 1942.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Murphy, op. cit. p. 122.
F.R.U.S. Europe, Vol. II, 1942 pp. 226-7.
Murphy, op. cit., p. 122.
The Chicago Tribune, 25th November 1942, cited by Julian Hurstfield, America and the French Nation 1939-1945, University of N.C. Press, Chapel hill, 1986, p. 176.
Burns, James Mac Gregor, "Roosevelt Soldier of Freedom 1940-1945", Weidenfeld and Nicholson, London, 1970, p. 592.
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Dougherty, James J., "The Politics of American Aids: American Economic Assistance to France and French North Africa, 1940-1946", London, 1978, p. 130.
Crawford, Kennet, "Report on North Africa", Ferrar and Rinehart, Inc., New York, 1943, p. XI.
