851.01/598: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:49 p.m.]
4418. We have received from Admiral Stark and General Bolte the following memorandum on suggested procedure for dealing with General de Gaulle and the French National Committee: [Page 537]
“Admiral Stark and General Bolte, after discussion with General de Gaulle would propose to adopt the following procedure in consultations with National Committee of Fighting France:
- 1st.
- They propose to establish joint secretariat with common files under their respective aides and with the assistance of liaison officers designated by them from their staffs.
- 2d.
- They have suggested that communications of French on all subjects directly or indirectly related to conduct of the war be addressed to them. They will consult Embassy for advice or assistance on all questions not specifically military or naval in character.
- 3d.
- They will discuss with French authorities any questions submitted by State Department, Chief of Staff United States Army or Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. They will hope to receive assistance and advice of appropriate members of Embassy or staffs United States missions in London on all questions not specifically naval or military in character.
- 4th.
- Reports of results of such consultations on questions
of either French or American origin will be submitted to
Chief of Staff United States Army on purely military
questions; to Commander-in-Chief United States Fleet, on
purely naval questions; and to our Embassy London for
transmission to State Department on all other questions.
General de Gaulle was informally consulted and has
agreed to this method of organization of consultations
of services on French National Committee by United
States military representatives. He proposes following
procedures by French National Committee for organization
of their participation in discussions with United States
military representatives:
- 1st.
- All communications on purely military or naval subjects should be addressed to chief of his personal military staff for discussion with military, naval or aviation officers.
- 2d.
- All communications related to conduct of war which have economic or political implications should be addressed to Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Maurice Dejean for study by appropriate French services.
- 3d.
- French suggest that technical questions be examined together by liaison officers or experts to be designated for each such discussion by Admiral Stark or General Bolte on American side and by Commissioner of Foreign Affairs on French side.
- 4th.
- French had proposed also eventual direct consultation with officers of Embassy on nonmilitary subjects. They have been informed that only designated military representatives are now authorized to participate in such consultations. Officials of Embassy and United States missions assisting or advising on specific questions would act merely as expert advisers to military representatives. Admiral Stark and General Bolte would appreciate knowing whether State Department considers the above procedures acceptable.”
With reference to General de Gaulle’s fourth suggestion above, both Admiral Stark and General Bolte as well as the Embassy itself have noticed an endeavor on the part of the Fighting French to put emphasis on the political aspects of the movement and a desire to [Page 538] approach the Embassy directly on such questions. The Department is of course well aware of the feeling of the Fighting French that it is impossible to divorce the movement from its political significance and they are of course hopeful of obtaining some future further recognition of this aspect. In the light however of the Department’s designation of Admiral Stark and General Bolte to represent our Government, it seems preferable that the French National Committee should in the first instance make all approaches through Admiral Stark and General Bolte. The Embassy is of course assisting the latter to the fullest extent in all matters such as the proposed tripartite economic accord, reverse lend lease, etc.