851.01/10–344
Memorandum by the Secretary of State to President Roosevelt
Subject: Proposed Recognition of a Provisional Government of France
In my memorandum of September 21 on the above subject I expressed to you my fear that the British would make every effort to make it appear that they favor extending recognition to the French and that it is due to the unyielding attitude of the United States that this has not been done.
The obviously inspired article in today’s New York Times by Raymond Daniell in London fully confirms the fears which I expressed. I am quoting below for your information the most striking parts of the article in the event that you have not seen it:
“This Government (British) is more eager than ever to see full recognition extended to Gen. Charles de Gaulle’s regime as the Provisional Government of France in order that it may share in the discussions leading up to the final settlement with Germany and assumes its share of responsibility for enforcing it.”
“This viewpoint, it may now be disclosed, was presented to President Roosevelt in Quebec71 with all the eloquence that Prime Minister Churchill could muster, reinforced, it may be taken for granted, by all Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden’s background of experience and knowledge of European diplomacy.” …
“But Mr. Roosevelt remained unconvinced. Therefore, while Britain and the United States agreed to exchange ambassadors with the Italian Government, Washington and London will be represented in Paris by special representatives to the French Committee of National Liberation with the technical rank of Ambassadors.” …
“Were it not for the necessity for avoiding any action that might offend the United States Government the British Government would lose no time in recognizing the French Government on its own, purely as a provisional government pending an election. It is hardly a secret that diplomats here have been searching their brains for a way out that would not be taken as an affront in Washington.” …
- Documentation on the Second Quebec Conference, September 11–16, 1944, is scheduled for publication in a subsequent volume of Foreign Relations.↩