Office of the Historian

President Roosevelt to the British Prime Minister (Churchill)76

[Washington,] 19 October, 1944—7:40 p.m.

631. Replying to your 798. I think until the French set up a real zone of interior that we should make no move towards recognizing them as a provisional government. The enlargement of the Consultative Assembly which has already been extended and made more representative is almost as important and I should be inclined to hang recognition on the effective completion of both these acts. I would not be satisfied with De Gaulle merely saying that he was going to do it.

I agree with you that there must be no implication, if and when we do recognize a provisional government, that this means a seat on the European Advisory Council, etc. These matters can be taken up later on their merits.

I am anxious to handle this matter, for the present, directly between you and me and would prefer, for the moment, that the modus operandi not become a matter of discussion between the State Department and your Foreign Office.

Let me know your views upon this message.

Harriman’s messages indicate that you have had a good and useful conference77 and I shall be anxiously waiting to get a final summation from you.

I do hope you are free of the temperature and really feeling all right again.

Roosevelt
  1. Copy of telegram obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y.↩
  2. For correspondence on the visit of Prime Minister Churchill to Moscow in October 1944, see vol. iv , index entry under Churchill, Winston S.↩