Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1945, European Advisory Commission, Austria, Germany, Volume III

740.00119 E.A.C./4–1345: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State

London, April 13, 1945—2 p.m.
[Received April 13—11:03 a.m.]

3780. Cornea 219. Before last meeting of the EAC Massigli pressed very hard for an early reply to the French proposal concerning a French zone to be carved out of the United States zone in Germany, reported in my 1400, February 8, 9 p.m. I have refrained from reporting numerous previous inquiries and urgings realizing that the Department was doing all it could to expedite an answer.

I must now report that the French are very seriously concerned at this apparent indifference to a question which affects national interests and prestige of France to a high degree. They cannot understand why a decision announced by the President over 2 months ago⁴⁰ has not been implemented. Practical problems are also involved inasmuch as SHAEF wishes the French Army to provide civil affairs teams to work in the areas which will later form the French zone of occupation. I hope you can make whoever is responsible for, the delays understand that untoward postponement of our reply becomes a political factor in itself and may affect other matters in which we must seek agreement.

Winant

40. Apparent reference to the message regarding the control of Germany from the Heads of Government of the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union to General de Gaulle, the text of which is contained in telegram 798, February 21, 5 p.m., from Paris, p. 184.