§ 2. Mr. Martinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether agreement has yet been concluded with the French Committee of National Liberation for the administration of territory in Metropolitan France as it may be liberated from German occupation.
§ Mr. EdenI am happy to take this opportunity to emphasize that His Majesty's Government are in full agreement with the statement made by the United States Secretary of State on 9th April in regard to the administration of liberated France. In accordance with this, conversations are now in progress between the Supreme Allied Commander and the French Military Mission in this country under General Koenig with a view to working out detailed arrangements.
§ Mr. MartinMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether that means that the authority with which we deal in liberated France will be the French Committee of Liberation?
§ Mr. EdenYes, Sir. Incidentally, I do not know of any other authority except Vichy, and of course, we have no intention of dealing with Vichy in any circumstances whatever. It will be for the French nation in due course, as has repeatedly been declared by the leaders of the French Committee of National Liberation, to make their own choice of Government.