Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, European Advisory Commission, Austria, Germany, Volume III

740.00119 Control (Germany)10/–2345

Minutes of Meeting of the Secretaries of State, War, and the Navy, Held at Washington, October 23, 1945

Washington, October 23, 1945

[Extract]

Present:	The Secretary of State
	Robert P. Patterson, Secretary of War
	James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy

. . . . . . .

Military Government of Germany

Mr. Patterson stated that General MacArthur³⁰ and General Eisenhower are in favor of getting our military out of Government in Germany as soon as possible and they feel that the Government of Germany should be turned over to civilian control. The proper agency in his belief to which the responsibility should be given was the State Department. It was essential he thought if the mistakes of North Africa are to be avoided that responsibility be centered in one single Department. If the representatives of each agency in Germany report to separate agencies back here nothing but a mess will ensue. Mr. Byrnes replied that he thought the Army has the best organization and that it would be a great mistake to make the change now. He understood that naturally the Army wants to get out but he hoped that this could be postponed for some time to come. Mr. Patterson reiterated that when the time comes for the Army to leave he feels that only the State Department can take over. He added that while he did not know the Russian attitude the British are in favor of civilian control and already their set up is one-half civilian. Mr. Byrnes said that the State Department is not geared for this. Mr. Patterson thought that a separate unit could be set up and that there is adequate time to do it. He said that he could turn over some of the Army’s best men from Civil Affairs and mentioned that General Hilldring³¹ would be an excellent man for the job. Mr. Forrestal asked if he would turn over General Clay and Mr. Patterson replied in the affirmative. Mr. Byrnes suggested that this “bad news” be postponed for some eight or nine months. There was general agreement that when the change does take place it must be to a single Department.

. . . . . . .

30. The reference is presumably to General Joseph T. McNarney, acting Allied Supreme Commander in the Mediterranean Area, who became Commander of U.S. Forces in Europe in November 1945, rather than to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander, Allied Powers in Japan.
31. Maj. Gen. John H. Hilldring, Director of the Civil Affairs Division of the War Department.