851.01/3655
The British Embassy to the Department of State
The Soviet Ambassador left with Sir Alexander Cadogan41 on March 25th an Aide-Mémoire regarding consultation about policy [Page 666] with regard to liberated France. (The text of this Aide-Mémoire is attached.)
Sir Alexander Cadogan said that, speaking without having had time to consult the papers, he felt sure that the interpretation placed by the Soviet Government on Mr. Eden’s remarks42 must be based upon a misunderstanding. He recalled that the French question figured on the agenda of the European Advisory Commission, although the Commission had not been able to embark on discussion of it. He made it quite clear to Mr. Gousev that, in the opinion of His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and in accordance with the decision of the Moscow Conference,43 the policy to be pursued would have to be agreed between the United States Government, the Soviet Government and His Majesty’s Government.
The Soviet Ambassador is being informed that Mr. Eden confirms Sir Alexander Cadogan’s remarks. It is being explained to him that the discussions to which Mr. Eden referred in the House of Commons have been proceeding for the purpose of reaching agreement upon a modified version of the “basic scheme” as circulated and discussed at the Moscow Conference, and that it is hoped that this new scheme will shortly be available for consultation with the Russians in the European Advisory Commission in accordance with the Moscow decision. It is also being pointed out to Mr. Gousev that as France lies within the theatre of operations of the Combined Anglo-American Command, it is only natural that His Majesty’s Government and the United States Government should seek to agree on the directions which will have to be given to General Eisenhower before embarking upon further consultation with the Soviet Government.
- British Permanent Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩
- Reference to remarks in the House of Commons on March 22, 1944. See telegram 2380, March 23, from London, p. 657.↩
- See Protocol of the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers, November 1, 1943, point 6 of the Agenda, Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. i, p. 751; and annex 5, ibid., p. 760.↩