740.00119 EAC/2–2145: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
1444. On the understanding that such action is in conformity with your conversation with the President, and on the basis of Yalta decisions, the assumption stated in your 1778, February 21, 1 p.m., is correct and you may give effect to the instructions set forth in Department’s 712, January 29, midnight, approving in principle the five French requests on German affairs. You may likewise accept the proposed French amendments to the instrument of surrender.
We have not yet received the text of the French amendments to the agreement on control machinery, but on your assurance that these amendments make no changes of substance, you may concur in these amendments.
The Yalta decisions stipulate that a zone in Germany to be occupied by French forces should be allocated to France. This zone will be formed out of the American and British zones and its extent will be settled by the two governments concerned in consultation with the French Provisional Government.
We can not commence our discussions with the American military authorities on the extent of the French zone until we receive specific proposals.