851R.01/67
Press Release Issued by the Department of State, December 17, 1942
At his press conference today, the Secretary was asked the following question by a correspondent:
“Apart from Admiral Darlan’s statement, do you think that those French leaders who are eager to help us in bringing about the defeat of the Axis should now try to cooperate with one and another in the common effort?”
In reply the Secretary made the following statement:
“I have had only one view with respect to the two central points in the international situation as they address themselves especially to the Allied nations, and that view applies universally and not to any one country or one people any more than another. The first central point is that every person in sympathy with the cause of the United Nations and every group of persons and every other one concerned should strive to unify their efforts in the support of the Allied military cause until final success. That is the supreme [Page 484] and the immediate question that addresses itself to each and all of us alike in every part of the world. We need all the help we can get.
“With the victory won and freedom restored to those who have lost it or who are seeking it, there would then arise under point three of the Atlantic Charter the fullest opportunity for each people to select their leaders and their forms of government. These two central points of the world situation have been expressed heretofore by myself and others.”
For the possible assistance of correspondents, point Three of the Atlantic Charter is quoted below:
“Third, they respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live; and they wish to see sovereign rights and self government restored to those who have been forcibly deprived of them.”