Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Europe, Volume IV

851.01/10–2344: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, October 23, 1944—midnight.
[Received October 23—9:20 p.m.]

4050. I received at 10 o’clock this evening a letter from Molotov thanking me for the information contained in the letter referred to in my 4036, October 22, 1 p.m.,⁶⁸ concerning recognition of the Provisional Government in France, and stating that the representative of the USSR in France, Bogomolov, had been directed by the Soviet Government to make a declaration concerning the provisional recognition of the French Republic. He enclosed a copy of the declaration, which I understand was released to the press earlier in the evening. The declaration states that the Soviet Government has been informed by the British and American Governments of the establishment of the zone of the interior in France⁶⁹ and of the decision to announce recognition of the Provisional Government;⁷⁰ that the Soviet Government welcomes these decisions as warranted by the strengthening of the democratic foundations of the Provisional Government and as encouraging mobilization of French effort in the war against Germany; and that the Soviet Government announces its decision to recognize the Provisional Government and its wish to appoint Bogomolov Ambassador Extraordinary and Envoy Plenipotentiary in France.

Kennan

68. Not printed.
69. Regarding the establishment of civil administration in France and recognition by the United States of the French Provisional Government, see vol. iii, pp. 634 ff.
70. A statement by Acting Secretary of State Stettinius on October 23, announcing the recognition of the French de facto authority under the leadership of Gen. Charles de Gaulle as the Provisional Government of the French Republic is printed in Department of State Bulletin, October 29, 1944, p. 491.