865.01/527: Telegram

The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State

1743. From Murphy. Your 1831, October 8, 5 p.m.63 The military mission with the Italian Government was established by a directive of September 12 from the Allied Commander-in-Chief. Lieutenant General Mason MacFarlane was appointed head of that mission under this directive. The task [of] the mission is to transmit the military instructions of the Commander-in-Chief to the Italian Government, collect and transmit intelligence, and arrange for such coordinated action as the Italian armed forces and people can be induced to take against the Germans.

The military mission consists of naval ground forces and air sections. The headquarters of these sections report to General MacFarlane on all matters of policy. All technical matters they may report direct to the appropriate service.

According to the directive “on political questions the British Resident Minister in North Africa and the United States Minister or their representatives are associated with the mission in order to make the necessary diplomatic contacts with the Italian Government. They report to the head of the mission and all instructions from General Eisenhower on political as well as military questions are transmitted to them through MacFarlane”.

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The head of the mission reports to the Allied Commander-in-Chief and is not permitted communicate direct with any agencies in Washington or London.

I forwarded a complete report on this matter together with an account of my first visit to Brindisi in a letter to the President dated September 20 of which a copy was sent to the Secretary.64 Has this letter been received? This was followed by a further report in the same form dated October 6.65

Telegraphic reports were made in my 1618, September 19, 3 p.m.; 1665, September 30, 6 p.m.66 Have you received these telegrams?

It is also noted that you referred to the representation in Brindisi in your 1772, September 30, 9 p.m., in which connection see my 1668, September 30, 9 p.m.66

A considerable number of telegraphic reports on this subject have been sent to the War Department by this headquarters.

I understand from Dunn’s letter of July 2167 that a civil affairs committee of the Combined Chiefs of Staff included a representative of the Department to whom would be referred telegrams received from Allied Force Headquarters regarding the Italian operation. Have [you?] had access to the Agwar68 telegrams above mentioned?

Major General Kenyon Joyce has been detailed to the mission and is said to be en route from Washington to proceed to Brindisi. “See telegram 7902, from Agwar dated September 12”. He will replace Brigadier General Maxwell Taylor who is temporarily assigned as assistant to MacFarlane. The staff in addition to the Army, Naval and Air sections includes representative of AMG69 and PWB.70 [Murphy.]

Wiley
  1. Not printed.
  2. Copy not found in Department files. An account of the visit to Brindisi was contained in telegram No. 1618, September 19, 1943, 3 p.m., not printed (865.01/401½).
  3. Not printed.
  4. Neither printed.
  5. Neither printed.
  6. James C. Dunn, Adviser, Office of Foreign Economic Coordination. Letter of July 21 not found in Department files.
  7. Adjutant General, War Department.
  8. Allied Military Government.
  9. Psychological Warfare Branch of Allied Force Headquarters.