Native Algerian Jews May Soon Re-acquire French Citizenship, Welles Says

Under-Secretary of State Sumner Welles, in a letter made public today, declared that with the battle for Tunisia successfully concluded, there is every reason to hope that the legal problems involving the restoration of French citizenship to native Algerian Jews “will be solved in the near future.” He did not indicate whether the Cremieux Decree, abrogated by Gen. Giraud, will be re-established.

At the same time Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy informed the American Jewish Congress that Gen. Giraud, acting upon the request of the U.S. Government, has acted to end all racial discrimination in North Africa with respect to professions and with respect to positions in the military and civilian personnel of the armed forces.

Under-Secretary Sumner Welles’ letter was addressed to Congressman Emanuel Celler, in reply to a communication sent by the Congressman to the State Department asking for the restoration of the Cremieux Decree. It reads: “As you are undoubtedly aware, the presence of American troops in French north and west Africa does not mean that those territories have been occupied by our forces. The fact is that matters of local administration have at all times remained in the hands of the French. This, of course, applies to all laws and regulations affecting the local population, and it is therefore incorrect to state that any action taken by General Giraud with respect to the local situation has been approved, or disapproved, by this Government.

“It was stated some time ago by General Giraud that immediate study was being given to the early establishment of a procedure whereby those native Algerian Jews who were temporarily deprived of their French citizenship – but not their French nationality – could reacquire citizenship. Now that the battle for Tunisia has been brought to a successful conlusion there is every reason to hope that the legal problems involved will be solved in the near future.”

The communication of Assistant Secretary McCloy, addressed to Dr. Stephen S. Wise, president of the American Jewish Congress, reads as follows: “In the Ordinance of March 14,1943, general measures were taken abolishing all recial discrimination in admission to, and exercise of, the professions, and a further order of May 5 stipulates that government employees and agents who had been dismissed because of their Jewish origin are to be restored to their full rights. Finally, a note emanating from the Major General (similar to our Adjutant General) of the Army was sent on May 15 to Army, Navy and Air Forces specifying that ‘all racial discrimination in matters affecting recruiting, promotions to all grades, classes and echelons, and assignments and transfers of military or civilian personnel of the armed forces be discontinued immediately.’ This note further emphasizes that these instructions apply not only to Jews of French origin but also to native Algerian Jews who were French citizens before the recent abrogation of the Decret Cremieux. Thus all distinctions between French and native Jews in the armed forces have been completely abolished.”