Evening star., 1944-03-24
US. Strongly Opposes
Full Power in France
For De GauI|ists
~ the Associated Press.

This Government Is strongly
opposed to recognizing the
French Committee of National
Liberation as the sole governing
authority for France, but final
determination of Allied policy on
this preinvasion issue is await
ing reaction of the British gov
ernment to the American posi-
ton, it was learned today.
1t is considered possible here that
the British may come up with a
sharply conflicting view. but some
sort of compromise Is expected to
be worked out.
The compromise, while affording
agreement on orders to be given
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied
invasion commander, for dealing
with the French people, probably
will leave the British and United
States governments free to pursue
separate diplomatic courses with the
French committee.
Negative Points More Clear.
The negative points of Allied
policy for France are more clearly
established at present than the
positive lines of action. There will
be no dealings with the Vichy
government, Vichy officials or others
who have ''willfully," in the State
Departments words, co-operated
with the Germans.
Also it is considered certain that
the Allied Military Government or
ganization which has been used in
Italy will not function in France
nor for that matter in any other
Allied countries to be liberated of
German control.
The positive points of American
policy for France recently were de-
cided on by President Roosevelt
after he received recommendation
from the War and State Depart
ments. Diplomatic quarters are
still puzzled by his delay in an
nouncing his decision, and some
sources have reported that because
Of it the British now are in no hurry
either.
Two Points Emphasized.
The Presidents decision is under
stood on excellent authority to cover
two main points, directly or by i'm
plication:
l. In arranging the government
OF French territories liberated by
Allied armies, Gen. Eisenhower
should be free to deal with the
French committee, headed by Gen.
Charles de Gaulle, or with any other
patriotic individual or group in ef-
fective control of city or territory
2. Since the committee may well
be the only group capable of gov
erning, Gen. Eisenhower may deal
exclusively with 1t. In any case it
will have opportunity to set itself
up as the provisional government
of France, and it may be expected
that if and when it has proved its
popular support the United States
will give it diplomatic recognition.
Territorial Rule Recognized.
The committee, which Washing
ton already recognizes as the gov
ernlng authority for all the French
territories, has come increasingly to
look on itself as the provisional gov
ernment for France, and the British
government leans also to that view.
The British, therefore, may give
the committee recognition CH a
basis long before the
United States is willing to deal with
1t on more than a military basis.
Britain generally uses recognition
much more flexibly than the United
States.
American officials who have |
studied the situation say that as a
matter of fact they do not know of
any other agency than the De
Gaulle committee able to govern in
France.
However, they report some indi-
cation from inside France that in
one or two areas the people may
insist on rejecting committee rule
for their own local regimes, headed
by present underground leaders.
To meet the situation, the Presi-
dent has taken the position that
Gen. Eisenhower must be free to act
as he sees fit,