740.5/7–1153:Telegram
No. 83
The Chargé in France (Achilles) to the
Department of State1
164. Limited distribution. ReDeptel 107, July 9.2 We received today initial reaction from French Foreign Office. Laloy had the following to say:
- 1.
- For several years Polish General Anders had been endeavoring to persuade French military and political leaders his concept of a sort of “Freedom Corps” composed of Polish units to be organized in the West. French have never viewed Anders’ concept favorably.
- 2.
- The organization of “Freedom Corps” units would have little efficacy from a purely military point of view.
- 3.
- As a gambit of political and psychological warfare behind the Iron Curtain, Laloy considered the project as of dubious value, particularly at the present juncture.
- 4.
- As to the effect formation of “Freedom Corps” units would have upon the Kremlin, Laloy’s view was that it would provide the Russians with exceedingly valuable propaganda material in the “peace campaign” to the effect that the West (or the United States) was preparing for war, et cetera.
- 5.
- The effect in France would be “disastrous” and considered as highly provocative and a step in the direction of war.
Laloy stated he felt sure that Parodi and La Tournelle would agree with the foregoing points but assured me that he would [Page 224] speak to them over the weekend and provide us on Monday morning with an authoritative Foreign Office view.
We stressed the continuing need for secrecy and Laloy said that only Maurice Schumann, Parodi and La Tournelle would be brought into the picture. He added that in view of recent events in the Soviet Union this would be the worst possible time to go forward with the organization of “Freedom Corps” units.
We suggest that Department may care to take up this entire matter with Mr. Bidault in Washington.3
- Repeated for information to London and Bonn.↩
- See footnote 5, supra.↩
- Bidault was in Washington for the Tripartite Foreign Ministers meeting July 10–14.↩