Office of the Historian

740.0011 Moscow/75: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Acting Secretary of State

Moscow, October 26, 1943—noon.
[Received October 27—3:39 p.m.]

1739. Delam 28. For the Acting Secretary and Atherton81 from the Secretary.82 Reference Amdel no. 40.83 Hope Grady84 will accept appointment.

[Page 413]

I agree with suggestion that Murphy be named Political Adviser attached to AFHQ85 in similar status as Macmillan and also that Murphy be appointed as United States member of Advisory Council to the Allied Control Commission for Italy. We are now discussing details with regard to Advisory Council and I hope to be able to let you know what the exact titles of the members of the Council will be as agreed upon. I would like very much to have following suggestions given consideration by the President and you: That Murphy, in view of fact that Macmillan is a member of the British Cabinet, be given the rank of Ambassador in his new letter of appointment, that his wishes as to this new assignment be ascertained by the Department direct and that in any event he be granted 2 months leave in the immediate future.

I also concur with the proposal that Reber86 be provisionally appointed Deputy Vice President of the Political Section of the Allied Control Commission for Italy.

I assume that all of these appointments will be cleared through and approved by the War Department and General Eisenhower. The complicated question of jurisdiction and functions of the Political Military Commission which will concern itself with discussions, advice and recommendations to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain and the Soviet Union with respect to major questions of policy relating to occupied and liberated territories in Europe and which will probably sit in London is now under immediate discussion here. The jurisdiction and function of the Advisory Council for Italy is also being discussed. As soon as any decisions are arrived at here with respect to these matters you will be informed.

All these matters are of course for the approval or disapproval of the President. [Hull.]

Harriman
  1. Ray Atherton, Minister in Canada, temporarily in Washington for consultation.↩
  2. Secretary of State Hull was attending the Tripartite Conference in Moscow.↩
  3. Telegram No. 1066, October 23, noon, not printed.↩
  4. Henry F. Grady, former Assistant Secretary of State, was proposed for appointment as Deputy Vice President of the Economic and Administrative Section of the Italian Control Commission.↩
  5. Allied Force Headquarters.↩
  6. Samuel Reber, Counselor of Embassy attached to the office of President Roosevelt’s special representative in North Africa.↩