Once the supply and production levels for military equipment and planes had reached the required level, Monnet found that his work with the British Supply Council had become routine, so he turned his thoughts to the problem of France and particularly on the means for preventing North Africa coming under German control. He knew he would have to awaken the American administration's attention to this issue, in this he was lucky to have the support of key US officials, Felix Frankfurter, Supreme Justice and presidential adviser, Henry Stimson, War Secretary and John McCloy special assistant to Stimson. The problem with North Africa was that there were three forces operating, collaborationists, Gaullists and separatists, so it was into this confusion that Monnet entered head-on. By this time the Allies had decided to use North Afica as the first step in turning Hitler back from Western Europe, so the first landing of US troops was carried out in November 1942, the Allied landing initially met resistance from the French forces, so General Eisenhower to clarify the situation entered into talks with the senior French Official in North Africa, Admiral Darlan, in the midst of these negotiations Darlan was assasinated which heightened tensions considerably. A meeting was arranged between Roosevelt and Churchill to decide a course of action in Casablanca in January 1943, on the agenda was de Gaulle's role and French unity. It was also decided to appoint the respected French military hero General Giraud to take Darlan's place, Giraud was opposed to de Gaulle and the London based Committee of National Liberation. Howerver Giraud and de Gaulle managed to shake hands at Casablanca regarding their joint aim of a unified France. Roosevelt was forced due to public opinion in US and France against his own judgement to include de Gaulle in discussions on French unity. Monnet consented to go to Algiers to aid Giraud, however Secretary of State Hull vetoed the suggestion. So Harry Hopkins, Chairman of the Combined Munitions and Assignments Board (CMAB) asked that Monnet travel to Algiers on behalf on the CMAB, which Roosevelt agreed to. Before Monnet arrived in Algiers John McCloy went on an inspection tour of North Africa, where he began pushing Giraud to make political reforms, using as bait the provision of equipment. The most important political issue at the time in North Africa was the repeal of all discrimination against Jews and all other repressive Vichy legislation, and

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