851.01/7–943
The British Prime Minister (Churchill) to President Roosevelt 89
349. My immediately preceding telegram.91 Following is formula for recognition of French Committee suggested by Foreign Office.
Begins:
His Majesty’s Government are happy to recognize French Committee of National Liberation as administering those parts of French Overseas Empire which acknowledge their authority, and as having [Page 172] assumed functions of former French National Committee in respect of territoriies in the Levant. They also recognize it as the body qualified to ensure the conduct of the French effort in the war within the framework of inter-allied cooperation as well as, in principle, the administration and defence of French interests. The practical application of this principle to the different categories of French interests must be reserved for consideration in each case as it arises.
His Majesty’s Government have taken note of the Committee’s determination to continue their struggle, in close cooperation with all the Allies, until French and Allied territories are completely liberated and until victory is complete over all enemy powers. They count on the Committee to afford such facilities in military and economic spheres in territories under their administration as may be required by Governments of United Nations for prosecution of the war. In respect of certain of these territories, agreements already exist between French authorities and British or United States authorities. The creation of the French Committee of National Liberation may make it necessary to revise these agreements, and, pending their revision, all such agreements concluded since June 1940, except in so far as these have been automatically made inapplicable by the formation of French Committee of National Liberation, will remain in force.