125.283H3/166

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Murray) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)

Mr. Welles: The Vice Consuls who have gone to North Africa in connection with the economic plan were fully instructed in regard to the manner in which they would submit such information as they might be able to obtain in regard to political matters within the field of their operations. They were informed that they should transmit to the nearest American consular officer any data they might receive concerning such subjects as German infiltration, the political sentiment of the native population, the French attitude with respect to current developments, and related matters. The consular officer receiving this information would assemble the data from various sources, evaluate it, and transmit it directly to the Department under his own signature. The information would then be made available to the War and Navy Departments.

This procedure was understood and agreed upon not only by the Vice Consuls themselves before their departure but by the appropriate War and Navy officials.

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In order to evaluate the work of the various Vice Consuls for the purposes of their efficiency records, it is planned to have Mr. Murphy or the consular officials in North Africa submit separate confidential reports on their work.

Wallace Murray