810.20 Defense/9–2044

The Secretary of War (Stimson) and the Secretary of the Navy (Forrestal) to the Secretary of State

Dear Mr. Secretary: The Joint Chiefs of Staff have referred your letter of August 24, 1944 relative to the bilateral staff conversations which are shortly to be held with representatives of the armed forces of the other American Republics to the War and Navy Departments for action they deem necessary.

Prior to receipt of your letter of August 24, 1944, the War and Navy Departments had included in the letters of instructions for the conduct of staff conversations the following specific instructions:

a.
A statement to the effect that preliminary arrangements for the staff conversations would be made through diplomatic channels.
b.
Upon arrival in each country, the United States Ambassador would advise on protocol arrangements and make the necessary introductions to the foreign representatives designated to conduct the staff conversations.
c.
The United States Ambassador would be kept fully informed of the progress of the conversations and his guidance secured on all political matters which might be interjected.
d.
A copy of the estimate of the foreign policies of the country concerned furnished by the Department of State was enclosed.

Upon reference by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of your letter of August 24, 1944, and in order to assure complete cooperation and understanding between the representatives of the three departments, the [Page 122] War and Navy Departments agreed to issue identical letters of instructions to the military and naval representatives containing additional specific instructions substantially as follows:

a.
The senior diplomatic representative will arrange the time and place of the meetings and preside over the initial meeting in each country in order to clarify political matters.
b.
The military and naval representatives will proceed with conversations with their opposites in the country concerned consulting with the senior diplomatic representative in case of an impasse.
c.
When agreement is reached or conversations terminated, the senior diplomatic representative should express his views privately or in full conference as circumstances may dictate.

The War and Navy Departments consider that the instructions furnished, and to be furnished, the United States military and naval representatives will insure complete coordination and obviate the possibility of misunderstanding or the possible injection of topics foreign to the purpose of the conversations. It is, therefore, requested that the Department of State inform the senior diplomatic representative in each country concerned of the instructions listed herein that have been furnished the military and naval representatives by the War and Navy Departments.

Sincerely yours,

Henry L. Stimson

Secretary of War
Forrestal

Secretary of the Navy