811.20290B/7½
Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: An aide-mémoire sent by the State Department to the British Foreign Office under date of August 31st,19 with reference to a United States Mission to the Near East, has come to the attention of the Joint U.S. Chiefs of Staff. In it there are several inaccuracies.
In paragraph 1 the statement appears that “The United States Joint Chiefs of Staff for some time have been giving special consideration to the situation in the Near East and have discussed with the Department of State the serious consequences for the United Nations of possible Axis success in this area.” While it is true that the Joint U.S. Chiefs of Staff have such a project under consideration, it has not been the subject of special consideration as indicated nor has any one been authorized to present the views of the Joint U.S. Chiefs of Staff on this subject to the Department of State.
In paragraph 5 the statement appears:—“…20 and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have, therefore, in mind the sending of such an American mission to the Near East as soon as possible.” This statement only approximates the truth inasmuch as the Joint U.S. Chiefs of Staff have referred this question to the Combined Chiefs of Staff and will abide by the decision of that body and will give no approval to such a mission unless it receives the concurrence of General Maxwell commanding American troops in the Middle East.
Paragraph 11 describes the functions of the proposed American Mission, which are larger in scope than those being considered by the Joint U.S. Chiefs of Staff in their current study of this subject.
Paragraph 14 states:— “The Department of State feels that the effort involved in the sending of the mission is well worth while and that its results can be substantial, especially as it will enjoy the full support of both the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Department of State, …”20 As stated above, it has not yet been determined whether the Joint U.S. Chiefs of Staff will give this project their approval.
[Page 34]It is the opinion of the Joint U.S. Chiefs of Staff that the aide-mémoire in question does not accurately present their views and has the effect of committing them to a certain line of action prior to their decision that they will take such action. The matter in question is now the subject of study by the Joint U.S. Chiefs of Staff and the Combined Chiefs of Staff. It has been referred to the British Chiefs of Staff in London for approval and to the Commanding General of the American Troops in the Middle East for his recommendations.
It is requested, therefore, that the British Foreign Office be asked to disregard your aide-mémoire of August 31st until such time as final action has been taken on the matter through the channels in which it is being processed by the Joint U.S. Chiefs of Staff.22
- See telegram No. 4106, August 27, to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom, p. 26, upon which the aide-mémoire was based.↩
- Omission indicated in the original.↩
- Omission indicated in the original.↩
- A memorandum (not printed) by Mr. Wallace Murray, Political Adviser, on November 5, 1942, indicates that no reply was sent to this letter in view of later correspondence with Admiral Leahy. The British Foreign Office had already replied; see telegram No. 5168, September 15, 8 p.m., supra. Agreement was reached with the British Chiefs of Staff for a visit by Colonel Hoskins to Cairo; see footnote 25, p. 36.↩