Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, General: Economic and Political Matters, Volume I, Part 1

700.5 MSP/3–2052

Memorandum by the Director of the Management Staff of the Department of State (Heneman) to the Secretary of State¹

[Washington,] March 19, 1952.

• Subject:
• Notes for Meeting with Mr. Harriman.

Mr. Harriman has called indicating he wishes to discuss the subject set forth in item 1 below. We are informed that he may also bring up the subjects discussed in items 2 and 3. For your use in discussion with Mr. Harriman, certain relevant information on each of these points is summarized below.

1. Proposed executive order on the role of the Chief of Diplomatic Mission for Mutual Security activities (Attachment A).

a. This is the proposed executive order concerning the role of the Chief of Diplomatic Mission which was discussed with you by representatives of the Bureau of the Budget, and which you approved, immediately prior to your departure for the Lisbon conference.² In the present draft, Section 1(a)(1) provides that the Chief of Diplomatic Mission shall exercise “general direction and leadership” of the entire Mutual Security Program at the country level. Mr. Harriman has proposed substituting “general supervision” for “general direction.” We understand that this suggestion has been made primarily at the insistence of Mr. Kenney.

b. The Departments of State and Defense and the Bureau of the Budget have accepted the words “general direction.” The Bureau of the Budget feels that it would be a mistake to weaken what is implied by those words by substituting “supervision” for “direction”, although the Bureau would undoubtedly accept your views in this matter.

c. The significance of the proposed change in the views of your staff and the Bureau of the Budget is that it reflects an attitude which would weaken the role of the Chief of Diplomatic Mission and represents a step backward from recent developments with respect to the functions and role of the Ambassador.

2. Extending the proposed executive order (Attachment A) to include a reference to Ambassador Draper’s role.

a. We are informed that Ambassador Draper has proposed that this order define his relationships with the country level missions. The Bureau of the Budget has refused to include this matter in the present order on the grounds that the proposed executive order deals with procedures and relationships at the country level on a global basis and is not confined to Europe. It is the view of your staff that Ambassador Draper’s relationships with the country missions should be defined and stated when his Terms of Reference are revised.

[Here follows item 3, “Legislative authorization for information media guarantees”.]

Attachment A

[Washington,] February 15, 1952.

Draft Executive Order

Overseas Coordination Procedures Under Section 507 of the Mutual Security Act of 1951

By virtue of the authority vested in me by section 507 of the Mutual Security Act of 1951, 65 Stat. 373 (Public Law 165, 82nd Congress, approved October 10, 1951), and as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, it is ordered as follows:

Section 1. Functions of the Chief of the United States Diplomatic Mission. (a) The Chief of the United States Diplomatic Mission³ in each country, as the representative of the President and acting on his behalf, shall coordinate the activities of the United States representatives including the chiefs of US economic missions, MAAGs and other US agency representatives⁴ in such country engaged in carrying out programs under the Mutual Security Act of 1951 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) and he shall assume responsibility for assuring the unified development and execution of the said programs in such country. More particularly, the functions of each Chief of US Diplomatic⁵ Mission shall include, with respect to the programs and country concerned:

(1) Exercising general direction and leadership of the entire effort.

(2) Assuring that recommendations and prospective plans and actions of the United States representatives are effectively coordinated and are consistent with and in furtherance of the established policy of the United States.

(3) Assuring that the interpretation and application of instructions received by the United States representatives from higher authority are in accord with the established policy of the United States.

(4) Guiding the United States representatives in working out measures to prevent duplication in their efforts and to promote the most effective and efficient use of all United States officers and employees having mutual security responsibilities.⁶

(5) Keeping the United States representatives fully informed as to current and prospective United States policies.

(6) Prescribing procedures governing the coordination of the activities of the United States representatives, and assuring that these representatives shall have access to all available information essential to the accomplishment of their prescribed duties.

(7) Preparing and submitting such⁷ reports on the operation and status of the programs under the Act as may be⁸ directed by the Director for Mutual Security.

(b) Each Chief of US Diplomatic⁹ Mission shall perform his functions under this order in accordance with instructions from higher authority and subject to established policies and programs of the United States.

(c) No Chief of US Diplomatic⁹ Mission shall delegate any function conferred upon him by the provisions of this order which directly involves the exercise of direction, coordination or authority.¹⁰

Section 2. Referral of unresolved matters.

The Chief of US Diplomatic⁹ Mission in each country shall initiate steps to reconcile any divergent views arising in the country concerned with respect to programs under the Act. If agreement cannot be reached the Chief of US Diplomatic⁹ Mission shall recommend a course of action, and such course of action shall be followed unless a United States representative requests that the issue be referred to higher authority for decision. If such a request is made, the parties concerned shall promptly refer the issue¹¹ to higher authority for resolution prior to taking action at the country level. The Director for Mutual Security shall assure expeditious decisions on matters so submitted.

Section 3. Effect of order on United States representatives.

(a) All United States representatives in each country shall be subject to the authority conferred upon the Chief of US Diplomatic⁹ Mission in such country by section 507 of the Mutual Security Act of 1951 and by this order.¹²

(b) Subject to compliance with the provisions of this order and with the prescribed procedures of their respective agencies, all United States representatives affected by this order, (1) shall¹³ have direct communication with their respective agencies and such other¹⁴ parties and in such manner as may be authorized by their respective agencies, (2) shall keep the respective Chiefs of US Diplomatic¹⁵ Missions and each other fully and currently informed on all matters, including prospective plans, recommendations, and actions, relating to programs under the Act, and (3) shall furnish to the respective Chiefs of US Diplomatic¹⁵ Missions, upon their request, documents and information concerning the said programs.

Section 4. Further coordination procedures. The Director for Mutual Security shall be responsible for assuring the carrying out of the provisions of this order. He is authorized,¹⁶ after consultation with the interested Government agencies, to¹⁷ prescribe any additional procedures he may find necessary to carry out the provisions of this order.

Section 5. Prior orders. (a) To the extent that provisions of any prior order are inconsistent with the provisions of this order, the latter shall control, and any such prior provisions are amended accordingly. All orders, regulations, rulings, certificates, directives, and other actions relating to any function affected by this order shall remain in effect except as they are inconsistent herewith or are hereafter amended or revoked under proper authority.

(b) Nothing in this order shall affect Executive Orders Nos. 10062, 10063¹⁸ and 10144 of June 6, 1949 and July 21, 1950, respectively.

(c) Executive Orders Nos. 9857, 9862, 9864, 9914, 9944, 9960, 10208, and 10259 of May 22, 1947, May 31, 1947, May 31, 1947, December 26, 1947, April 9, 1948, May 19, 1948, June 13, 1949, January 25, 1951, and June 27, 1951, respectively, are hereby revoked.

1. A covering memorandum from Heneman to Battle, dated Mar. 19 reads: “Luke: Pursuant to our telephone conversation of this morning, I am attaching a memorandum for the Secretary’s information for his discussion with Mr. Harriman this afternoon. As you know, Mr. Harriman indicated in his call of yesterday that he desired to discuss item 1 in the attached. We were informed that he may also bring up items 2 and 3. If you do not find the attached adequate for your use in briefing the Secretary, we will be glad to be of further assistance.”
2. For documentation on the Ninth Session of the North Atlantic Council at Lisbon, Feb. 20–25, 1952, see vol. v, Part 1, pp. 107 ff.
3. The parenthetical phrase “hereinafter referred to as the Chief of Mission” has been deleted from the source text at this point.
4. The handwritten phrase “including the chiefs of U.S. economic missions, MAAGs and other US agency representatives” was added to the source text.
5. The handwritten words “US Diplomatic” were added to the source text.
6. The following words were added to the source text: “all United States officers and employees having mutual security responsibilities.”
7. The word “periodic” was deleted and the word “such” substituted in the source text.
8. The handwritten words “may be” were added to the source text.
9. The handwritten words “US Diplomatic” were added to the source text.
9. The handwritten words “US Diplomatic” were added to the source text.
10. The following handwritten words were added to the source text: “which directly involves the exercises of direction, coordination or authority.”
9. The handwritten words “US Diplomatic” were added to the source text.
9. The handwritten words “US Diplomatic” were added to the source text.
11. The following words were deleted from the source text at this point: “jointly submit a written statement”, and the handwritten words “promptly refer the issue” were substituted.
9. The handwritten words “US Diplomatic” were added to the source text.
12. The words “this order” were deleted from the source text at this point, and the handwritten phrase “section 507 of the Mutual Security Act of 1951 and by this order” was substituted.
13. The word “may” was deleted from the source text at this point, and the handwritten word “shall” was substituted.
14. The word “such” was deleted from the source text at this point, and the handwritten words “their respective agencies and such other” were substituted.
15. The handwritten words “US Diplomatic” were added to the source text.
15. The handwritten words “US Diplomatic” were added to the source text.
16. The word “shall” was deleted from the source text, and the handwritten words “is authorized” were substituted.
17. The handwritten word “to” was added to the source text.
18. The handwritten number “10063” was added to the source text.