740.5/10–951: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State
priority
2096. For Perkins Eur from MacArthur. Distribution at Perkins’ discretion. Gen Bradley met with Gen Eisenhower and UK and Fr Chiefs this morning at SHAPE to discuss West Mediterranean Command arrangements. Satisfactory agreement was reached on a French West Mediterranean Regional Command and subsequently approved by Fr Cabinet.
It was agreed that press release on new arrangement wld be issued later at date to be agreed by Fr and UK Govts.
In view of agreement on press release and fact that other non-SG members of NAT do not have info on West Med Command agreement, foregoing shld not be divulged.1 [MacArthur.]
- On November 28 it was announced that Admiral Carney’s allied naval command in the southern European area would be divided into two parts. A French admiral would exercise command in the West, while an Italian admiral would command the sea approaches to Italy. Vice Adm. Antoine Sala, who held, and retained, command of all French naval forces in the Mediterranean was appointed Commander in Chief of the West Mediterranean Regional Command. On December 22, Admiral Girosi of the Italian Navy was appointed Commander in Chief of Italian Sea Approaches. (Folliot, Survey of International Affairs, 1951, p. 32)↩