HC Deb 19 July 1944 vol 402 c170
9. Mr. Edgar Granville

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a formal agreement has now been reached between Great Britain, the U.S.A. and General de Gaulle for the recognition of the French Committee of Liberation as the provisional Government and civil authority for liberated France.

Mr. Eden

There is for the moment nothing that I can add to my statement of 12th July.

Mr. Granville

Was the question of a provisional Government discussed at Washington; and do the present arrangements mean that the idea of a provisional Government has been shelved, in favour of the term "civil authority?"

Mr. Eden

This arrangement deals with the actual facts of administration, which is a most important matter. We hope it will be now settled as the result of the work done in Washington.

Mr. Granville

Will the French Committee of Liberation be consulted, or will it serve on the committee for discussing the question of armistice terms?

Mr. Eden

That is quite a different matter. We are now dealing with the administration of France.