740.0011 P.W./5–2345
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of European Affairs (Matthews) to the State–War–Navy Coordinating Committee
Reference is made to the minutes of the State, War, Navy Committee meeting of April 13, 1945 dealing with the “Use of Indochina resistance forces”27 and in particular to the Committee’s request that the Department of State should take up the question of prompt clarification of our policy on Indochina. In as much as the final determination of policy with respect to Indochina will probably involve and depend upon discussions with the French Government, and in as much as the Secretary of State has expressed the wish that these discussions should not be initiated at least while the present conference in San Francisco is in session, consideration of the matter has been restricted to the immediate implications of General de Gaulle’s message to the effect that France wished to participate actively at the side of American forces in the campaign against Japan. This message was discussed with the French Foreign Minister by the President and by the Acting Secretary of State and referred to in the President’s public statement28 regarding his talks with M. Bidault. In the latter “the President emphasized that we are faced with a still strong and deadly enemy in the Far East to whose defeat the total resources of this country, both in manpower and material, are pledged. He indicated that such assistance as France and our other Allies may bring to that struggle and which may be synchronized with operations already planned or under way, will be welcomed.”
In the conversation which took place in the White House on May 19, 1945, the President referred to General de Gaulle’s message and expressed his appreciation of France’s offer of assistance. The President then said “that he had received a message from General de [Page 310] Gaulle to the effect that France would be glad to participate in the war against Japan alongside the United States and the President expressed his appreciation of France’s offer of assistance. The President said that it is his policy to leave to the Commander-in-Chief in the field matters relating to the conduct of the war and that in this case also he would wish to leave to the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Forces, Pacific,29 the determination of whether it would be practicable and helpful to have French forces join with us in the operations against Japan. He indicated that such assistance as France and our other Allies might bring to the struggle in the Pacific, which would synchronize with operations already planned or under way, would be welcomed. The President thought that the question would depend in large measure on the problem of transport, and, as the Minister no doubt was aware, this was an important problem involving three times the amount of tonnage that had been used in the war in the Atlantic. This subject was not further pursued.”
On the following day the same subject was again referred to in the following terms in a conversation between the Acting Secretary of State and the French Foreign Minister: “I mentioned that among the points which had been touched upon at the White House was that of French military assistance in the Far East in the war against Japan. I reminded Mr. Bidault that while the President had expressed his general approval to French military association with us in this theater, he had emphasized that the problem was a military one and would necessarily have to be judged on its merits by the military authorities. I said that in the circumstances it was up to General MacArthur to decide just how much and where the French military contribution could be best utilized. The Minister mentioned that there were two French divisions ready for immediate transportation to the Far East. In reply to my inquiry as to whether there are Senegalese troops among them, he admitted that this was probably so, although there were also substantial numbers of white French. He made it clear that the French divisions could be utilized anywhere in the Far East, and there was no intention of limiting their contribution to attacking the enemy in Indochina. I reiterated that this matter would be placed before our military authorities immediately.
In as much as the Acting Secretary of State agreed that the matter would be placed before military authorities immediately, it is recommended that the foregoing be brought to the attention of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the earliest possible moment. In this connection, the following suggestions which are believed to be in harmony with the expressed views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are put forward: [Page 311]
- (a)
- While avoiding so far as practicable unnecessary or long-term commitments with regard to the amount or character of any assistance which the United States may give to French resistance forces in Indochina, this Government should continue to afford such assistance as does not interfere with the requirements of other planned operations. Owing to the need for concentrating all our resources in the Pacific on operations already planned, large-scale military operations aimed directly at the liberation of Indochina cannot, however, be contemplated at this time. American troops should not be used in Indochina except in American military operations against the Japanese.
- (b)
- French offers of military and naval assistance in the Pacific should be considered on their military merits as bearing on the objective of defeating Japan as in the case of British and Dutch proposals. There would be no objection to furnishing of assistance to any French military or naval forces so approved, regardless of the theatre of operations from which the assistance may be sent, provided such assistance does not involve a diversion of resources which the Combined or Joint Chiefs of Staff consider are needed elsewhere.