851.01/10–2044: Telegram
The American Representative to the French Committee of National Liberation at Paris (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 21—10:45 a.m.]
74. For the Secretary, Under Secretary, Dunn, and Matthews.79 General Eisenhower told me this morning that in reply to question from the Joint Chiefs of Staff he will telegraph this morning recommending early recognition of the de Gaulle government.
He remarked that it is definitely in the interest of our military authorities to have a strong French Government in power. In his opinion if our early recognition is not forthcoming there will be increasing opportunity for the forces of disorder to take advantage of the existing situation to endeavor to break down governmental authority in France thus creating an intolerable behind-the-line situation for our troops at the front. It is obvious, he said, that we shall have to face a hard winter; we can do very little for French civilian requirements; we can allot for instance only one-third of the amount of coal for civilian purposes that the Germans were allotting; the essential demands of our force at the front will require in face of transportation-communication difficulties and especially the approach of winter with consequent difficulties for the use of the beachheads that practically every available ton of material go forward to our troops at the front leaving very little transportation indeed for civilian requirements; there is coal at the mines and plenty of food in some districts but practically no transportation to move them. It is obvious that a disaffected population in the rear of the lines might play havoc with our military operations. Even factories still operating in the Paris area will close down in about 3 weeks.
[Page 743]He said also that whatever may be said about de Gaulle (and there is plenty to say) there is no opposition leader in sight who would have the slightest chance of overthrowing him at this juncture. (Even the Communists are giving him at least lip service.) If he were overthrown now General Eisenhower thinks chaos would ensue.
In that connection his Chief of Staff General, General Bedell Smith, believes that the declaration in regard to the zone of the interior would be an opportune time to recognize. My telegram 73, October 20, noon.80 In this connection you will recall also my telegram number 40, October 18, noon.80
General Eisenhower also believes that if France falls into the orbit of any other country the other countries of Western Europe will do the same; in other words as goes France so goes Western Europe. He does not believe that it would be in our interest to have the continent of Europe dominated by any single power (obviously in no event will France be in a position to dominate) for then we would have a super-powerful Europe, a somewhat shaken British Empire and ourselves. In our case would we maintain the adequate military naval and air forces which that would imply?