Office of the Historian

851R.01/49a

The Under Secretary of State (Welles) to President Roosevelt

Washington, December 15, 1942.

My Dear Mr. President: With reference to the message which Admiral Leahy delivered to me from you this afternoon, I am transmitting herewith the suggested message to be sent by the War Department to General Eisenhower.

If this meets with your approval5 I shall arrange to have it sent off by the War Department as soon as possible.

Believe me

Faithfully yours,

Sumner Welles
[Page 482]
[Enclosure]

Draft of Telegram To Be Sent by the War Department to General Eisenhower

“I am today appointing Mr. Murphy to be my personal representative in North Africa with the rank of Minister. He will continue on General Eisenhower’s staff in his present capacity as Civil Affairs Officer until such a time as consultation with the War Department suggests a change.

“The British Government is being informed in the above sense today.”

December 15, 1942.
  1. Approved by President Roosevelt.↩