740.00112 European War 1939/6368

Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations (Murray) 18

The attached telegram19 to Mr. Robert Murphy at Lisbon appears to be essentially the same as that which was held up by Mr. Welles in the light of the President’s new directive regarding the North African supply program, as explained by Admiral Leahy.20 Mr. Murphy is now on his way to the United States and is expected to remain in Lisbon only long enough to make the connections with the Clipper, so that we may look forward to his arrival in the immediate future when he will be in a position to answer all of the questions put up by the Board of Economic Warfare.

In any case, the so-called enlarged program of economic supplies proposed by the BEW appears to be deceptive. The French have never been able to move more than one-tenth of the commodities which they have been authorized to purchase in the past and there is little likelihood that they will be able to do better in the future with the four vessels employed in the North African service. It was only with the greatest difficulty that even these four ships were obtained for the Casablanca–New York run. There is no indication as to where additional vessels could be obtained to transport the additional goods which would be approved by the BEW on condition that thirty buying agents should enter North Africa. Under the circumstances, permission to purchase increased quantities of approved products would have little or no validity.

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Moreover, with New Orleans as the newly selected center for operations under the economic accord, the greatest difficulties are foreseen in obtaining freight cars and port facilities to ship goods to North Africa. Rail congestion because of military requirements is already acute and considerable delays will undoubtedly ensue in sending to New Orleans even the normal supplies for shipment to North Africa. Finally it would be unjust to offer “an extensive Red Cross program including ambulances” without having prior assurances that this would be feasible. There has been no indication that the Red Cross has been consulted on the subject or that ambulances and medical supplies would be available for forwarding to French North Africa.

In view of the above reasons, both NE21 and PA/M22 feel unable to initial the proposed telegram to Mr. Murphy.

Wallace Murray
  1. Addressed to the Under Secretary of State (Welles) and the Assistant Secretary of State (Acheson).
  2. Supra.
  3. Adm. William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy.
  4. Division of Near Eastern Affairs.
  5. Office of the Adviser on Political Relations (Murray).