123 [Hurley, Patrick J.]
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State ( Stettinius ) to the Secretary of State
The Secretary: Pat Hurley called me on the telephone this afternoon.
We and the War Department are willing for him to go to the Middle East but the Foreign Economic Administration has objected.
Mr. Stimson1 and General Marshall2 have now talked to him about going to China. Pat raised with me personally whether or not there is any chance of his being made Ambassador. I have told him my personal view and said that, taking everything into account, it would be unlikely that we would make any change in the representation in China at any time in the near future.
He appealed to me, however, to discuss the matter with you. Unless I hear from you to the contrary, I shall tell him that we have complete confidence in him but it is impossible for us to consider making a change at this time.