740.00119 Control (Germany)/9–2245
The United States Political Adviser for Germany ( Murphy ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 22—3:30 p.m.]
586. General Clay has spoken to me about the matter of channels for instructions from our Government to the United States Group Control Council. He has noted a tendency for the Department of State recently to send instructions through me as a channel and he believes that this practice is confusing and bound to lead to difficulties. I have been very frank with him in stating that I try to keep the Department promptly and fully informed of the United States Group’s activities and he is in entire accord that I should. When I telegraph the Department about a given subject I suppose that it is only natural for it to reply in the form of an instruction. However, in the interest of harmony I think that it would be best for the [Page 965] Department, if you agree, to handle instructions regarding major policy matters especially through the War Department to Clay. You will fully understand the sensitivity that exists regarding jurisdiction. I feel that our present relationship is excellent and I am perfectly willing to go along with Clay on the basis he suggests.