President Roosevelt to Rear Admiral Glassford 29
My Dear Admiral Glassford: Reposing special faith and confidence in you, I am asking that you proceed at your early convenience [Page 118] to Dakar, French West Africa, there to serve as my Personal Representative with the rank of Minister. In military and naval matters you will be directly responsible to the Commanding General at Algiers; in civil matters you will act under the general direction of his Chief Civil Affairs Officer, who is likewise the ranking representative of the Department of State in French North and West Africa. Instructions concerning your activities other than those of a military or naval character will be provided by the Department of State either directly or through the Chief Civil Affairs Officer.
In your capacity as my Personal Representative in French West Africa, you will take all appropriate measures to supervise and coordinate American activities in that area, to foster friendly relations with the French authorities, and to promote mutual interests in economic and other matters.
You will, of course, report through appropriate channels any matters coming to your attention in the performance of your mission that may be of interest to this Government.
With all best wishes for the success of your mission, I am
Very sincerely yours,
- Copy obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y.↩