855.001 Leopold/6–1845: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Caffery)
2828. For Murphy. In the event that King Leopold of the Belgians, acting independently, should make request for transportation into Belgium, it is Department’s understanding that request should not be granted pending submission to SHAEF and to State and War Departments. In this connection see Facs 182.80 On the other hand, it is Department’s understanding, subject to SHAEF confirmation, [Page 129] that under existing directives, if similar request is made by Belgian Government in writing to SHAEF, it may be granted. The Department would be agreeable to a solution whereunder King at his own request be furnished transportation to Belgian frontier only. British Embassy is informing London in this sense.
For your information, as to events following King’s return, Department considers that any intervention by allied military authorities to maintain order in Belgium should be taken only as a last resort when the commanders are satisfied as to its necessity and not merely on Belgian government recommendation. It considers, however, that this is primarily military matter and is making no recommendation to SHAEF at present in this sense.
Repeated to Brussels.81