Office of the Historian

800.24/1413

The Adviser on Political Relations (Murray) to the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius)

Washington, December 4, 1943.

Mr. Steitinius: Referring to your attached memorandum of conversation on December 117 with Lord Halifax, when he suggested that we might wish to “reconsider” the aide-mémoire regarding Middle Eastern discussions which was handed to him on November 30 last, I think you will be interested in the attached telegram of December 218 which the Secretary directed me to draft for dispatch to the President on this subject.

The President’s reply in paraphrase is also attached.19

I may say in confidence that during my conversation with the Secretary on this subject it was felt that, although Lord Halifax had stated to you that he did not intend to submit our aide-mémoire to the British Foreign Office, he might—and probably would—communicate directly with the Prime Minister on the subject requesting the Prime Minister to take it up with the President.

As stated in the final paragraph of the Secretary’s telegram to the President, the purpose of the communication was to acquaint him with the Secretary’s views in case Mr. Churchill should broach the matter to him. Note: the Secretary himself inserted the words “including a suitable British staff now in Washington.”

I have meanwhile not discussed this matter with Sir Ronald Campbell and assume that it is no longer necessary to do so.

As you will note, the President desires his views in this matter communicated to Lord Halifax. Since Lord Halifax took the matter up with you in the first instance, do you desire to acquaint him with the views of the Secretary, which are fully concurred in by the President?20

Wallace Murray
  1. Ante, p. 12.↩
  2. Ante, p. 13.↩
  3. Supra.↩
  4. In a memorandum of December 8, the Under Secretary informed the Adviser on Political Relations as follows: “I have told Lord Halifax of the President’s reaction to this matter and I think, as a result, that they will hold this in abeyance until the President’s return.” President Roosevelt returned to Washington on December 17. (800.24/1453)↩