Subject: French Request for Participation in Big
Three Meeting
cc to Mr. Grew and Mr.
Bohlen
[Enclosure]
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
secret
Paris, January 16, 1945—
noon.
[Received January 17—7:12 a. m.]
215. Reference my telegram 214,1 January 16, 9 a. m.
The Provisional Government of the French Republic has learned
through public information of a proposed conference between the
representatives of Great Britain, the United States of America
and of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, for the purpose
of determining precisely the conditions of their cooperation in
the war.
In this connection the Provisional Government of the French
Republic believes it should bring to the attention of the
Government of the United States of America the following
observations: The Military operations in the West are taking
place at the present time on French territory or in the
immediate neighborhood of its frontiers. France is making to the
full extent of its present possibilities, an important and
increasing contribution thereto, not only by its land, sea and
air armed forces, but also by certain resources indispensable to
the struggle, especially its means of transport and its
ports.
Moreover, it appears, in the light of recent military events,
that the continuation of the struggle to victory necessitates a
constantly increasing participation of France in the common war
effort. This participation cannot be assured under satisfactory
conditions without a revision of the program of production,
supply and transport which are [is] in
effect at the present time between the Allies, a revision which
cannot be advantageously undertaken without the direct
participation of the Provisional Government of the French
Republic.
Moreover, it must be observed that the conferences held between
the other great allied powers lead these to decide in advance,
without the participation of France, the settlement of certain
questions of a political or economic character which, however,
interest France directly or indirectly, in which case the
Provisional Government of the French Republic evidently could
not consider itself bound by any of the decisions taken without
it and, consequently, such decisions lose some of their
value.
Independently of motives of high political and moral propriety,
it therefore appears opportune to the Provisional Government of
the French Republic to make it known that its participation in
such conferences is, in its eyes, necessary in matters relating
to problems
[Page 297]
concerning
the general conduct of the war, as well as those, the settlement
of which concerns the future of peace—problems in which the
responsibility of France is obviously engaged.
The Provisional Government of the French Republic cannot doubt
that its point of view will be shared by the other great allied
powers.
January 13, 1945.
