J.C.S.
Files
Memorandum by the Representatives of the British
Chiefs of Staff
top secret
C.C.S. 618
[Washington,] 14 July 1944.
Machinery for Coordination of United
States-Soviet-British Military Effort
- 1.
- The text of messages which have been exchanged between the Head of
the British Military Mission in Moscow and the British Chiefs of
Staff is contained in the Enclosure to this paper. The British
Chiefs of Staff have asked us to pass these messages to the United
States Chiefs of Staff and to explain that it is their firm opinion
that the coordination of matters of military importance must rest
with the Combined Chiefs of Staff and cannot be delegated to any
theatre commander.
- 2.
- The British Chiefs of Staff agree that some machinery is necessary
to coordinate the efforts of the Anglo-American forces on the one
side and the Russians on the other, but feel that this is a matter
which must be settled by the Combined Chiefs of Staff and that this
can best be done at the next meeting of the United States and
British Chiefs of Staff.
Enclosure
top secret
I. Following is the text of Mil 1582 (T.O.O. 1216301)
from General Burrows, Head of British Military Mission in Moscow, to
British Chiefs of Staff.
- “1. After conference yesterday with both ambassadors2 and
Deane letter in following sense was addressed to General
Slavin over signatures of Deane and myself.
- 2. Begins: Stalin recently
indicated to Harriman that it might be desirable to create
some machinery through which the efforts of our respective
forces could be co-ordinated.3
- 3. In view of the firm establishment of a bridgehead in
France and the rapid advance of the Red Army we suggest that
the moment to create this machinery has arrived.
- 4. General Eisenhower and General Marshall discussed this
subject with Ambassador Harriman and agreed that the
exchange of operational information will become increasingly
important as the armies of our three countries converge and
General Eisenhower is ready for us to come to England and
discuss the establishment of an effective system.
- 5. We plan to leave for England about Monday, 17th July,
and suggest that prior to our departure we should be given
an opportunity to discuss this matter with Marshal
Vassilevsky or General Antonov in order to be able to give
General Eisenhower an indication of the Soviet views on this
subject. Ends.[”]
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