Executive Secretariat Files
Briefing Book Paper
undated
Rearming of French Forces
Last August the British Embassy raised with the Department of State
the question of equipping the armed forces of certain Western
European Allies to enable them to maintain security in their own
countries and to take part in the occupation of Germany. At that
same time the British Chiefs of Staff placed the same proposal
before the American Joint Chiefs of Staff. The British proposed that
in view of the fact that French ground military units were presently
furnished with American arms, that the United States should furnish
arms and equipment to the French forces for the purposes indicated.
The British, on the other hand, would furnish arms and equipment to
the Belgians, Dutch, Norwegians and eventually the Danish. The
British proposed that they furnish the French with air equipment.
The American Joint Chiefs of Staff informed the Department of State
that the British proposals, from a military point of view, were
acceptable to them, but that the matter should be handled on a
Government to Government level and not on a Combined Chiefs of Staff
level.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff also indicated their view that the Soviet
Government should be informed of the proposed action. Two memoranda
(copies attached) on the subject were submitted to the President for
his approval.1 That approval has now been received. The
armament involved in these proposals is for post-European war
delivery and is not involved in the present arrangements now under
execution for the equipping of eight additional French divisions.
The manner in which the equipment involved in the British proposal
is to be supplied to the French Government is one to be worked out
with the War Department and not at the level of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. As soon as the mechanical arrangements can be made with
[Page 305]
the War Department it is
proposed to discuss the matter first with the French authorities at
a Government [level?] and at the same time to inform both the
British and the Soviet authorities of the action we have taken.
The manner in which payment may be made by the French Government for
the supplies thus envisaged is to be determined in discussion with
the French authorities.
The British Embassy has informed the Department of State that the
Departments of the French Government concerned in this matter are
considering the complicated question of how far the mutual aid
agreements between the United Kingdom Government and the countries
in question are applicable to the equipment and training of Allied
forces for the post-hostilities period. The British Embassy states
that when final conclusions have been reached the Department of
State will be informed. The equipping and training by the United
Kingdom Government of Belgian, Norwegian and Dutch forces are at
present governed by mutual aid agreements in force between the
United Kingdom and the Governments in question.
[Attachment 1]
Memorandum to the President
top secret
Subject: Arming of French Forces.
In late August, the British Embassy approached the State
Department, and the British Chiefs of Staff approached the
Combined Chiefs of Staff, with reference to the adequate
equipment of the forces of the Western European Allies, to
enable them to maintain security in their own countries and to
take part in occupying Germany. The question was asked whether
the United States Government would be willing to re-equip a
French Army for such purposes from American sources during the
next few years, having in mind that present French land forces
are provided with American munitions and matériel. British
Chiefs of Staff suggested a continuance of British supply to
Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The United States Chiefs of Staff, through Admiral Leahy, stated to the
Department that there was no objection on military grounds to
the division of responsibility proposed but that no commitments
should be made that will be rigidly exclusive for the
future.
The authority to deliver supplies for security or occupation
forces is given by the Lend-Lease Act, and these munitions could
be furnished on straight lend-lease or on credit under Section 3
(c) of the Act. We could also furnish
such supplies for cash, but cash purchases might use on [up?] dollars needed for civilian supply
and reconstruction.
[Page 306]
I recommend that we accept the British proposal, but suggest
dealing directly with the French. Our present policy toward
France is based on the belief that it is in the best interests
of the United States that France resume her traditional position
as a principal power capable of playing a part in the occupation
of Germany and in maintaining peace in Europe. The recruiting
and equipping of French land forces would be a natural corollary
of this policy, and politically such a move could be portrayed
as a further evidence of American friendship for France and a
proof of our desire to see her as a strong nation. … However, it
must be borne in mind that France will make every effort to
obtain arms from any source.
We are presently in the process of preparing a lend-lease
agreement to be proposed to the French, and under that proposal
these military supplies could be furnished on a straight
lend-lease basis. However, unless the British are agreeable to
furnishing comparable military supplies to Norway, Denmark, the
Netherlands, and Belgium on a similar basis, we may have to
reconsider the implementation of our proposal in order to
standardize the terms of our arrangements with the French and
those made by the British with the other four countries in
question.
I recommend further that the Soviet Government be informed of
what the British and the American Governments propose to do, and
that it be pointed out that the arming of the Western European
Allies is on a non-restrictive basis.
(The foregoing proposal and recommendation are not of course
related to the equipment and maintenance of French ground forces
by General Eisenhower for
utilization in the present campaign against Germany for which
the General has full authority.)
[Attachment 2]
Memorandum for the President
top secret
December 27, 1944.
Subject: Desire of British Government to Assist
in Re-equipping the French Air Force
A communication has been received from the British Embassy
relative to the desire of the British Government to make an
immediate offer to the French authorities to assist in
re-equipping the French Air Force. A copy of the communication
in question is attached here-with.2
As indicated in the British aide-mémoire,
the specific proposal now advanced was considered by the Joint
Chiefs of Staff. Admiral Leahy informed the Secretary of State that “from
the military point of view
[Page 307]
there is no objection” to the British
proposal whereby the British would undertake to equip certain
French air units.
The “certain French air units” referred to in Admiral Leahy’s letter3 are the same as those
described in the attached aide-mémoire.
The British attach importance to proceeding with this matter as
soon as possible and in view of the concurrence of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, it is recommended that we notify the British
that we approve.
The question of our supplying equipment for French land forces,
which was the main subject of Admiral Leahy’s letter under
reference, is being dealt with in a separate memorandum.
