740.00116 PW/12–645
The French Embassy to the Department of State
The French Embassy presents its compliments to the Department of State and referring to the notes which it was good enough to address to the Embassy on October 1820 and November 21,21 has the honor to call its attention to the following points:
After examining the Department’s proposal for the establishment of an international military tribunal for the punishment of war crimes committed in the Far East, the French authorities would be disposed, in principle, to designate three representatives for the proposed tribunal.
At the same time, the acceptance by the French Government of participation in the proposed organization does not carry with it any limitation, with the exception of decisions taken by common agreement, on the judicial and repressive action which the French authorities are in a position to take directly against Japanese or other war criminals in Indochina by virtue of the sovereign rights which France possesses in the territories of the Union.
Furthermore, the French Government would like to know if liaison will be established between the proposed organization and the War Crimes Commission sitting in London and what will be its nature and purpose.
The Embassy would appreciate it if the Department would be good enough to make known its views with reference to the two points mentioned above.
The Embassy takes the occasion of this note to renew to the Department the assurances of its highest consideration.