763.72119 P 43/924: Telegram
The Special Representative ( House ) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 19—4:16 p.m.]
123. Your telegram number 36, November 15, 6 p.m, I shall detain Hoover upon his arrival early next week and shall ask him to lay the basis for a political intelligence system during his visit to the Central Powers with Gibson’s assistance. Agents will be despatched as soon as they can be chosen and approved by the Department. Grew will have general supervision of the political intelligence section here; arrangements being made for handling material effectively. I suggest that Gibson remain in Austria after Hoover’s return with headquarters at Vienna to have general supervision over agents. In view of the uncertainties of communication and travel, it is important to have someone there who can move about as required under instructions from Paris. Do you not think it would be advisable for him to open the Embassy Chancery so as to have place for section of documents and codes and for installation of wireless outfit for rapid communication to Paris?