740.0011 P.W./8–2544
The Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Grew) to the Secretary of State
Office Memorandum
S—Mr. Secretary Reference is made to the aide-mémoire left on August 26 by Lord Halifax …
[Here follows a summary of the aide-mémoire of August 25, 1944, printed ante, p. 247.]
I believe it desirable to call to your attention that the French request to the British Government was submitted in a note from the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs to the representative of the British Government in Algiers on May 24, an English translation of which was transmitted by the American Ambassador, Mr. Murphy, under date of June 10. The French note does not include the two last mentioned proposals but it does point out that the British S.O.E. in the Indies “are already carrying out the instructing and training of a large number of French officers with a view to officering of the light intervention force”.
It is, also, to be noted from the attached cable no. 231 from Colombo of July 251 that some weeks ago the British dropped a de Gaullist agent in Indochina utilizing American facilities in China for the purpose and making efforts to prevent General Chennault from learning the exact nature of the operation; that at a recent staff meeting, S.E.A.C., presided over by Lord [Louis] Mountbatten, it was decided to proceed with two additional operations proposed by the British S.O.E. to drop de Gaullist agents in Indochina by parachute, one of whom is said to carry a holographic letter from de Gaulle; that the American staff officer responsible for coordination of S.O.E. and O.S.S. was not present having been told the meeting was cancelled; that he had been asked his approval in advance but declined as these operations are apt to be of far more political than military importance, and he was unwilling to assume responsibility of approving as an American officer British political policies and programs for Indochina which might not coincide with American policies and programs; that because of the political implications of the operations and the reluctance of American officers to give approval it was decided to seek approval of the American Government through regular diplomatic channels via London; that the British intended, however, to proceed with the first operation planned at the recent meeting even though clearance with the Department could not have been obtained [Page 251] through London by then. It is to be noted that American facilities have to be used in all of these operations. To date, there has been no approach to the American Government through diplomatic channels for approval of these operations.
A memorandum to you with a proposed memorandum to the President was approved by me on July 27, but was withdrawn when I was advised that the issue raised by the use of American facilities in this manner was being taken up directly with the President by the American military authorities. I have now been informed that the military authorities have decided not to raise the question with the President and this matter presumably has not been brought to his attention.
Attention is further called to cable no. 146 of August 162 stating that the American Ambassador has been “informed by usual reliable source that British have approved immediately the sending of a French military mission with limited personnel who would be accredited to Lord Mountbatten’s command to discuss questions relating to Indochina and control use of the light intervention force”; that “agreement has supposedly been reached also” between French and the British on the sending of a light intervention force; and that the “question of sending later on a French expeditionary force has not yet been worked out but it is expected that some progress will be made during Massigli’s present trip to London”.
You will recall that on July 7 you sent a memorandum to the President3 advising him of the French request for British approval of the proposed military mission to Lord Mountbatten; of the sending of the light intervention force to India; and, at a later date, of a French expeditionary force to participate in the liberation of Indochina.
The foregoing is submitted for your information in connection with the pending decision of the President on the proposals for which the British aide-mémoire requests approval.