851.01/488: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:35 p.m.]
3300. Lord Halifax telegraphed the text of the memorandum given him by the Secretary58 concerning our relations with the Free French. The Foreign Office has decided that it would not be wise to show the memorandum to General de Gaulle at the present time even in confidence as Halifax reported Mr. Eden59 was authorized to do. While the first Foreign Office reaction was to the effect that General de Gaulle “would be well advised to accept” the bases of relationship between us and the Free French as set forth therein, it is apparently their feeling that he will be disappointed at the lack of “political recognition” implied therein. The Foreign Office is considering the advisability of telegraphing Lord Halifax suggesting two modifications in our memorandum. They believe that the indication that we would continue to deal with “local Free French officials wherever they are in control” rather than through the National Committee will prove irritating to de Gaulle and of no practical value since, in their view, such local officials will invariably refer matters under discussion to the General and the National Committee in London. The second Foreign Office observation has to do with the intimation that we would be agreeable to the appointment of military and naval representatives of the Free French “and possibly a civilian adviser” to deal with our Government authorities in Washington. The Foreign Office takes the view that as far as territories actually under Free French control are concerned, the Free French do have certain “Governmental responsibilities with respect to such territories” and that consequently it would be preferable to put our relations with the Free French in Washington on a basis which will recognize that de facto situation.
With the exception of these two points, however, the Foreign Office appears to have been pleased with the memorandum.