Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, Volume II

J. C. S. Files

No. 1291
Memorandum by the United States Chiefs of Staff¹

top secret
C. C. S. 895/2

[Babelsberg,] 19 July 1945.

Participation of Two French Colonial Infantry Divisions in Far Eastern Operations

The United States Chiefs of Staff have considered the comments of the British Chiefs of Staff in C. C. S. 895/1² as to the employment of the two French divisions and recommend that the enclosed memorandum be forwarded by the Combined Chiefs of Staff to the Chief of the French Military Mission to the United States in lieu of Enclosure “B” to C. C. S. 895.³

[Enclosure]

top secret

Draft

Memorandum for the Chief of the French Military Mission in the United States⁴

The Combined Chiefs of Staff accept in principle your offer of a French corps of two infantry divisions to serve in the Pacific war on the understanding that: —

a. Whether the corps will serve under U. S. or British command and the area in which it will operate will be determined later.

b. Final acceptance of the corps will involve an agreement with the government concerned on basic matters including command, combat efficiency, replacements, and logistical support.

c. Maximum use will be made of equipment provided under the North African and Metropolitan Rearmament Program.

d. The time of movement will be in accordance with the priority of the operations in which it is to be used. Pressing shipping and other requirements for operations in the Pacific make certain that the corps cannot be moved from France for at least several months. Whether used in the main effort or in the South China Sea area, it will not be possible to commit it to operations prior to the spring of 1946.

1. Considered by the Combined Chiefs of Staff at their 196th Meeting, July 19. See ante, p. 113.
2. Document No. 1290.
3. Document No. 1288.
4. This text was communicated to the Chief of the French Military Mission in a memorandum dispatched by the Combined Secretariat of the Combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington on July 19.