Memorandum from Acting Secretary of State Joseph Grew to President Harry S. Truman, Current Foreign Developments

TOP SECRET DECLASSIFIED E.O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and' 5(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, Aug. 10, 1972 By NLT H4 NARS Date 6.26.75 May 21, 1945 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT ARCHIVES AN SERVICE" Subject: Current Foreim Developments French Troops on Italian Soil. The French Govern- ment has informed Eisenhower that it considers that the end of military operations means that the novements of French troops of the Alps are no longer strategic quea- tions but should be examined on a governmental level. Therefore, the question of withdrawal of French troops from northwestern Italy can no longer be handled directly between Eisenhower and the French Command. Pending study of this question by the interested governments, French troops will remain in their present positions. Eisenhower is understood to consider the situation impossible and is considering informing the Combined Chiefs of Staff that he intends to reply to the French relinquishing the com- mand of French forces and turning over responsibility for them to the French Government. General Mark Clark after discussing the situation with French General Doyen has recommended to Alexander that the Allied Governments should make strong representations to the French Govern- ment to have their troops withdrawn at the earliest pos- sible date. Recommended Dissolution of *Doenitz" Government and Arrest of Its Members. Ambassador Murphy has visited General Rooks who is in charge of the SHAEF control party at Flensburg.