Description

November 06-07, 1941 – With reference to circular 037 of September 27, 1940 (see FFM_6GMII-92_0010-0032) which determined in an extremely detailed way « the formalities to be fulfilled, either to go abroad or to return from there, or to travel between the territories of the French Empire », the procedure is simplified for the French going to Morocco or Tunisia and is not modified as regards foreigners. The Minister of Foreign Affairs asks the Resident General in Rabat to comment on the particular case of Moroccan subjects wishing to make a « short stay » in Morocco : they give simple proof of their identity or are they subject to the procedure of circular 037 ?

January 06-08, 1942 – The Minister of the Interior confirms his agreement to the simplified procedure and specifies that « the consultations prior to the granting of safe-conducts and visas for trips made by French people traveling from Algeria to Tunisia or Morocco, and vice versa, will be limited to only doubtful cases ». This simplified procedure also concerns the wife and minor children of civil servants, civilians or soldiers, going to France on leave or on holiday.

January 17, 19 and 22, 1942 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs in turn writes to the Resident General in Rabat and Tunis to confirm to them that after consultation with the Governor General of Algeria, Mr. Pucheu, « the consultations prior to the granting of safe-conducts and visas for trips made by French people going from Algeria to Tunisia or Morocco, and vice versa, will be limited to only doubtful cases ». He told them that this simplified procedure also concerns the wife and minor children of civil servants, civilians or soldiers, going to France on leave or on holiday.

February 12, 1942 – Admiral ESTEVA, Resident General of France in Tunis, responds to the note from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of January 22 to express his reservations about the simplified procedure. He wants a prior agreement between the « concerned Administrations of Algeria and Tunisia » for the determination of « doubtful cases » and for « the means to be employed to ensure the surveillance of individuals whose requests will be considered as doubtful cases ». He justifies his reluctance by the fact that Tunisia « constitutes a precious point of observation, used […] by the agents of the opposing Powers ». He indicates that individuals attribute French nationality to themselves by means of false identity documents and recalls « a recent Gaullist propaganda affair [which] revealed that the agents of dissidence (of the French) were in close contact with sections acting in Algeria and probably in Morocco ».

February 16, 1942 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs requests the approval of the Minister of the Interior to the new proposal of General Noguès « that only be considered as non-doubtful cases […] the requests formulated by French people of good reputation… » and for precise reasons which it details.

February 28, 1942 – The Minister of the Interior (MI) writes to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MAE) to inform him that in accordance with Circular No. 37 of 09/27/1940 (see FFM_6GMII-92_0010-0032) he has « authorized the Prefects to issue passports and visas for Morocco, without consulting the Residence, to people whose home is in the Protectorate ». He learns that since 04/27/1941 the MAE has been issuing visas without consulting the MI, in contradiction with the provisions of the circular, and asks him if he « considers it useful to modify paragraph « E » indent 4 of the circular. n° 37 so [that it] can give the Authorities concerned the necessary instructions ».

March 12, 1942 – General Noguès writes to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to express his disagreement that « many visas are still issued by the Prefects without prior consultation with the Moroccan Traffic Office ».

April 17, 1942 – The Minister of the Interior (MI) writes to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA), in response to his letter No. 2792 Pol. of March 2, 1942 (this letter does not appear in the file) « relating to the conditions of the movement of the French between Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia [he informs him] that, in agreement with the Governor General of Algeria, [he] approves the criterion that you have proposed to me for the determination of doubtful cases likely to lead to prior consultations ».

March 07, 1942 – Admiral ESTEVA, Resident General of France in Tunis, writes to the Governor General of Algeria to remind him of his opposition to the simplified circulation procedure until doubtful cases are clarified « with your services ». He proposed a new procedure with three criteria covering the different possible cases and insisted on its adoption.