740.00119 European War/9–144: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

8284. You were authorized by Department’s 71852 to agree to submit to French the text of German surrender terms and to invite them to consult with EAC regarding those terms and questions arising therefrom.

We understand that British are in agreement with this procedure but that Soviet representative remains without instructions.

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We believe that in view of deep interest of this subject to the French, we should no longer delay consulting them, and you are therefore requested to take steps to that end within the Commission on the understanding that such consultation will not in any way prejudice our future position with respect to including France in the control machinery for Germany.

For your information we contemplate notifying the French informally of our willingness to have the question of German surrender terms fully discussed with them in the EAC in order that they may not be in doubt concerning our position in the matter.

Repeated to Paris and Moscow for their information.

Hull
  1. Dated September 5, midnight, p. 88.