121.5461/195: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 12—10:07 p.m.]
839. About 2 weeks ago General Michela informed me that in view of the lack of cooperation of the Soviet military authorities in furnishing him with military information and of their persistent delays in arranging for him to visit the front, whereas the Chief of the British Military Mission31 had been accorded two trips to the front within the last few months, he considered that his usefulness in Moscow as Military Attaché was at an end. He consequently had decided to ask for his recall. I requested that he withhold any such action until I had discussed the political implications of such a step with Molotov.
On June 26 I informed Molotov of Michela’s desire to ask for his recall and outlined the reasons therefor. I stated that I felt that the recall of my Military Attaché in such circumstances might have [Page 550] unfortunate repercussions in the United States and might result in unfavorable public comment. I said that I felt I would be derelict if I did not make an effort to avoid such a development.
Molotov replied that he was unaware of this situation adding that it was his understanding that the British and American military representatives were being accorded similar treatment. He offered to look into the matter immediately.
On June 28, Michela was requested to call on Marshal Vasilevsky, the Chief of Staff, with whom he had a very satisfactory conversation. Vasilevsky promised him considerably more cooperation than had been forthcoming in the past and authorized General Dubinin, Assistant Chief of Staff, to work out the details with Michela. In a subsequent conversation with Dubinin on June 30 Michela outlined instances of Soviet non-cooperation and was informed that steps would be taken to rectify the points at issue. In connection with one of the points, namely Michela’s objection to the Soviet practice of taking up purely military matters not connected with Lend-Lease through General Faymonville, Dubinin requested that the Soviet authorities be advised in writing as to the exact status of both General Faymonville and General Michela in respect to such matters. Michela informed Dubinin that he would discuss this question with me.
In view of General Dubinin’s request I am sending a communication along the following lines to Molotov:
“I have the honor to refer to a conversation held on June 20 [30] between Brigadier General Michela, Military Attaché of the Embassy, and Major General Dubinin, Assistant Chief of Staff of the Red army, in which I am informed that General Michela was requested by General Dubinin that the appropriate Soviet authorities be advised in writing with respect to the exact status of Brigadier General Faymonville, Chief of the United States Supply Mission, in relation to Brigadier General Michela.
Since both Generals Faymonville and Michela are integral parts of the American Embassy, I feel that it is incumbent upon me to endeavor to remove any misunderstanding that may exist in the minds of the Soviet authorities in respect to the exact status of these two officers. With this in view, I am quoting herewith the pertinent section of instructions sent to General Faymonville on December 12, 1942, by the office of Lend-Lease Administration. These instructions are still binding.
‘The function of the United States Supply Mission in the USSR is to represent in that country the office of Lend-Lease Administration. In performance of this function the U.S. Supply Mission shall concern itself with the problems of supply to the Soviet Union under the terms of the Lend-Lease Act and other such related agreements and protocols which have been or are subsequently to be agreed upon by the United States and the Soviet Union.’
It would seem clear from the aforementioned instructions, and I have so interpreted it, that General Michela in his capacity as Military Attaché is the representative of the War Department of the U.S. in the Soviet Union and that General Faymonville in his capacity [Page 551] as Chief of the Supply Mission is the representative of the Office of Lend-Lease Administration in the Soviet Union and of that organization alone. Consequently, it would appear to me that all questions [in] which the War Department is the agency primarily interested should be referred by the Soviet authorities to General Michela and all questions relative to Lend-Lease material and supplies coming to the Soviet Union should be referred to General Faymonville.
I would appreciate it if you would cause the Soviet authorities who are interested in the above matter to be informed accordingly.”
- Lt. Gen. Sir Giffard Le Quesne Martel.↩