Office of the Historian

Roosevelt Papers

The Assistant Secretary of War (McCloy) to the President’s Special Assistant (Hopkins)

[Cairo,] 30 November 1943.

Memorandum for Mr. Harry Hopkins:

In the course of my talk with Eden1 I brought up Hull’s suggestion2 of a Committee set up somewhat as the Combined Committee to deal with all French questions. All matters relating to our dealings with the French would for the time being be cleared through that committee. Hull’s idea was that this would eliminate the irritation and distrust that now arises in connection with our respective French policies. Eden expressed prompt approval of the idea and today Hull cabled through Stimson3 to the effect that he thought it would be well to set such a group up in London. I gather it would be most informal and could consist of a military man and a foreign affairs man from each of the governments, calling on other agencies for such economic and other help as they need.

Would the President think well of this idea? If so, I can see that it is pushed along.

Sincerely,

J. J. [McCloy]
  1. See ante, p. 351.↩
  2. See Hilldring’s telegram of November 25, 1943, to McCloy, ante, p. 423.↩
  3. Ante, p. 444. The telegram in question had been sent on the evening of November 28.↩