DEPARTMENT OF STATE
WASHINGTON
AIDE MEMOIRE
His majesty's Government are very anxious to make some positive
move towards the French authorities about future of the French
Air Force. During his recent visit to Paris, the Prime Minister
undertook to do his best, after consultation with the United
States Government to help in meeting General de Gaulle's request
for the re-equipment of the French Land Forces. The possibility
of supplying British equipment for this purpose in being examined
but it will inevitably take some time to formulate and agree
proposals with the United States Government. In the meantime
His Majesty's Government would like, as a token of their interest
and good will, to make the re-equipping of the French Air F
2. His Majesty's Government desire to know whether the United
States Government agree to their opening technical discussions
with the French authorities, in the course of which they would
offer to provide and maintain the air-craft, and to train the
personnel, for the squadrons mentioned in the British proposals
on policy and equipping of the forces of the Western European
Allies (Paragraph 8 of the enclosure to CCS. 653). For convenience
of reference the appropriate extract is enclosed. The supply
of additional aircraft without any undertaking to replace them
or to train personnel to man them, would be considered when the
time arises. This offer would, or course, be without prejudice
to the wider issues raised in the British Embassy's Aide Memory
f August 19th at present under examination by the State Depa
3.In the absence of any agreement with His Majesty's Government
it is to be feared that French authorities will start constructing
German-type aircraft to which their plants are already ada
4. The French