740.0011 European War 1939/18823
Memorandum by Mr. Samuel Reber of the Division of European Affairs
The Free French Commissioner informed the Department on December 10 [30?] 1941, that the French National Committee in London was studying the question of adherence to the joint declaration of the 26 Powers. Mr. Tixier explained that General de Gaulle59 had informed him that in all previous Allied conferences in London the Free French had been admitted on a basis of equality with the other exile governments. It therefore seemed strange that as soon as America entered the war the Free French were eliminated from the Allied conferences in spite of the military effort which they are making and their effort of full cooperation, particularly as regards bases in the Pacific Ocean. Mr. Tixier went on to explain that General de Gaulle felt it would not be possible for him to adhere if the Free French movement were relegated to the same position as the socalled Free German movement, King Carol, a Free Austrian movement, et cetera, movements which represented no military effort and which were not in control of any territory.
It was appreciated that no official recognition of the Free French movement as a government could be forthcoming but it was felt that some recognition could be given to the fact that the Free French National Committee in London was in control of strategically important French territories and was fully associated with the united nations in their war effort.
It was hoped that it might be possible for this Government to adopt the same attitude as the British Government which “regards the Free French National as representing all free Frenchmen wherever they may be who rally to the Free French movement in support of the Allied cause and treats with the Committee on all questions involving their collaboration with the Free French movement and with the French overseas territories, which place themselves under its territory”.
- Gen. Charles de Gaulle, President of the French National Committee.↩