851.01/8–1444: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting American Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Algiers (Chapin)
2427. With reference to your conversation with Massigli reported in your 2667 August 14 following summary of conversation between Mr. Dunn and Mr. Alphand on August 13 is for your confidential information.
Alphand stated that upon his return to Washington from London where he is proceeding to be present at signing of Franco British civil affairs agreements, he expected to continue negotiations with this Government regarding mutual aid and lend-lease with continental France and to take up other considerations such as French participation in problems relating to Germany and occupation of that country as well as certain other unspecified questions affecting relationship between French authorities and this Government.
Dunn stated that at present we had no authorization to deal with French on questions other than those touched on in agreements just concluded. He added that questions relating to surrender and post surrender treatment of Germany were being dealt with in European Advisory Commission56 which was empowered to make and was making arrangements to inform other interested United Nations in Europe of developments along that line, at the same time offering nations most directly concerned an opportunity to state their views on German problem and that of other enemy states in Europe. Dunn stated that French authorities would be included in these discussions and that as we saw it the French had every reason to believe that they would be included in at least informal discussions on matters concerning them. This Government could not however deal with the Committee as the Government of France. Finally Dunn said that French authorities appeared to be unduly apprehensive concerning policies and attitude of this Government with regard to position of France in future and that we were most anxious that France should take its proper place in future developments in Europe and the world.
With respect to your specific question it is suggested that you informally tell Massigli, or in his absence the official in charge of Foreign Affairs Commissariat, that in principle we would welcome a visit from him at any time that he felt free to make the journey. You should add however that before giving an unqualified affirmative to his present inquiry we think it would be desirable from the French as well as our own point of view that we be given a clearer indication [Page 730] of the specific points which Massigli desires to bring up in order that it can be determined whether a visit at this time would have a reasonable chance of accomplishing a useful purpose.
Repeated to London.
- For correspondence pertaining to these questions, see vol. i, section entitled “Participation by the United States in the work of the European Advisory Commission,” part V.↩