Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conferences at Cairo and Tehran, 1943

Defense Files: Telegram

The Director of the Civil Affairs Division, War Department (Hilldring) to the Assistant Secretary of War (McCloy)

secret
priority

[Washington,] 25 November 1943.

(Eyes only, for McCloy from Hilldring signed Marshall¹)

1074. Conference with Secretary Hull and Mr. Dunn indicates State Department view that there is no preference between allocation on [of] northern or southern areas to United States under Rankin (C). However, the State Department suggests that serious consideration be given organization of a combined U. K.–U. S. commission to deal with French political situation irrespective of allocation of primary obligation under Rankin (C) for operations in French territory. This commission would have approximately the same representation as the Combined Civil Affairs Committee, but would be responsible to the SAC and its jurisdiction would be confined to civil affairs problems in France. The obvious advantage of such a commission would be to give Anglo-American sanction to all policies followed in French civil affairs, regardless of whether these policies were administered by the U. S. or the U. K. Aside from comments given above, Mr. Hull has no official comments to make with regard to Rankin (C). However in discussing the Rankin (C) plan and your radio number 10013² on that subject Mr. Hull expressed some doubt as to the wisdom of allocating separate spheres of responsibility if, from a military point of view, this could be avoided. With respect to the spheres of responsibility, if assigned, it is Mr. Hull’s opinion that firm declarations should be made by the governments of the occupying forces to the effect that no advantage shall accrue to the U. S. or to any of our allies in the area in which the armed forces of any united nation are located. Generals McNarney and Hull are acquainted with the contents of this cable.

1. Certain telegrams sent by the War Department in this period bore the standard notation “signed Marshall”, despite the fact that Marshall was at Cairo.
2. In telegram 10013, November 22, 1943 (not printed), McCloy had (1) asked Hilldring to consult Dunn and wire the views of the Department of State on the zones of occupation in Europe and (2) observed that he had found Roosevelt opposed to “our occupying France in the event of Rankin (C) occurring”.