Following for the Prime Minister.

Messages have been exchanged between Mr. Churchill and President
Roosevelt regarding the question of recognition of the French
Provisional Government.

2. We have come to the conclusion that events in France have now
moved to a point where we can take a decision to accord
recognition of the present French administration as the
Provisional Government of France.

3. The French Authorities have been co-operating well with the
Allied Supreme Command and General Eisenhower [1] is prepared to
agree to a request from the French administration for a
declaration of a large part of France as an 'interior zone' (in
accordance with the Civil Affairs Agreement) in which
responsibility for civil administration would become entirely a
matter for the French Authorities. (See my telegram D. No. 1544 of
the 16th of October. [2])
4. The internal position of the French administration also appears
to us to be satisfactory. There is no doubt that the
administration has the support of the majority of the French
people. For their part, the French administration are doing their
best to restore the democratic basis of French political life. The
enlargement of the Consultative Assembly is making good progress.

5. We consider that recognition of the French administration as a
Provisional Government might be accorded either when the greater
part of France is formally declared to be an 'interior zone' or
alternatively when the reformed Assembly has met and has given the
administration a vote of confidence. On the whole, the first
occasion which is likely to be earlier would seem to be
preferable.

6. The above considerations have been put to President Roosevelt
whose concurrence has been invited. Pending his reply we shall, of
course, take no step.

7. We are also informing the Soviet Government.

8. In anticipation of this event we are engaged in the preparation
of a communication to be addressed by Mr. Duff Cooper to the
French Minister for Foreign Affairs [3] on behalf of His Majesty's
Government in the United Kingdom, the text of which will be
communicated to you as soon as it is ready. Before sending final
instructions to Mr. Duff Cooper we intend to show our draft to the
State Department for their consideration.