Hopkins Papers
Prime Minister Churchill’s Assistant Private Secretary
(Rowan) to the Presidents Special Assistant
(Hopkins)
Washington, [May 24,
1943.]
Mr. Hopkins.
The Prime Minister wishes you to see the attached minute.
2(a) of Flag ‘Z’ is set out in the attached
extract1 from our papers. If this does not make the
matter clear, I can show you the file.
[Page 283]
[Enclosure 1]
Minute by Prime Minister Churchill2
[Washington, May 24,
1943.]
Lord Halifax.
General Ismay.
- 1.
- I might talk 2(a) of Flag ‘Z’ over
with General Eisenhower when we meet, but in principle his
wishes should be met about his own organization.
- 2.
- He should certainly communicate with the Combined General
Staffs, and all official communications should pass by this
channel.
- 3.
- Incidents may however arise which will be immediately
published by the Press, on which it may be necessary to take
rapid political decisions on the highest level. Therefore it
would be wise for Mr. Murphy and Mr. Macmillan to be kept in
touch with what is passing and to report, as they now do,
direct to the Heads of Governments. Neither I nor I expect
the President wishes to be involved in the regular routine.
But political questions of the highest importance may arise
on which we must be constantly informed by our two
representatives on the spot, and the good relations
prevailing between them and General Eisenhower should render
this process smooth and easy.
- 4.
- The more Italian functionaries we have to replace by
military officers, the greater will be our difficulties. It
certainly seems desirable to take all we can get in the way
of trustworthy help for running the country, except where
malignant Fascists are concerned. It is probable that the
local Italian officials will fall over each other in their
desire to serve once the fighting is over. It would be a
great mistake for us to establish an Anglo-American military
bureaucracy if we can get the Italians to do the
work.
- 5.
- I am not aware who is dealing with this subject on the
American side. I should think the matter could be quite
easily settled round a table today or tomorrow by the four
or five people involved, and could then be submitted to the
President for his approval. I do not wish to address the
President on the subject until it is reduced to some
particular, precise point of difference.
W[inston] S. C[hurchill]
24.5.43
[Page 284]
[Enclosure 2]
Memorandum by the First Secretary of the
British Embassy (Hayter)
[Washington,] May 21,
1943.
Extract From a Paper by Mr. Hayter of the
British Embassy, on Administration or Huskyland
2. (a) They (His Majesty’s Government) do
not see the need for the proposed appointment of a Deputy Chief
of Staff to General Eisenhower, and would prefer a small
political section with an American Chief and a British Assistant
Chief. On this point the United States Government, while not
acquiescing, have said that the organization is principally a
matter for General Eisenhower. The latter’s Chief of Staff,
General Bedell Smith, is now in Washington and is believed to
share the views of His Majesty’s Government on this point.
