810.20 Defense/9–2044
Memorandum by the Acting Director, Office of American Republic Affairs (Armour), to the Secretary of State
The Secretary: A serious difference of opinion has developed between the Department and the War and Navy Departments with respect to the relationship between our diplomatic missions and the army and navy officers who are shortly to hold staff conversations with representatives of the other American republics (except Argentina).
The issue involves not only the State Department’s authority and responsibility in the field of foreign relations, but also, in my opinion, the maintenance of good relations with the other republics and the very success of the staff conversations themselves.
When it became apparent that army and naval officers with whom ARA30 was dealing did not accept our view, it was felt in ARA that it was essential to present the Department’s position in writing; a letter to Admiral Leahy was accordingly drafted and signed by you on August 24.
[Page 123]In reply we received on October 4 a letter of September 20 signed jointly by Secretaries Stimson and Forrestal, in which it is made clear that the War and Navy Departments have not accepted to any substantial degree this Department’s position.
Specifically, the points in the Department’s letter which the War and Navy Departments do not appear to accept are:
- 1.
- That the chief of diplomatic mission should always be in a position to guide the conversations within proper channels.
- 2.
- That all chiefs of mission should, if they so desire, appoint members of their staffs to be present at the discussions.
- 3.
- That, because of special conditions in Cuba, Colombia, Mexico and Panama, the actual conduct of the conversations in those countries should be under the active direction of the chief of mission, who should decide what role he should play.
(You will recall in this connection that Ambassador Braden, when he was here, gave you a memorandum31 expressing his whole-hearted approval of this letter.)
I recommend that you personally take this matter up urgently with Secretaries Forrestal and Stimson. No settlement can in my opinion be reached by further correspondence or by discussion at a lower level. I believe it undesirable to proceed with staff conversations with any country except Brazil until this issue is settled, and only this stands in the way of commencing in Chile.
The correspondence is attached for your convenience.