033.1140/33: Telegram
The Commission to Negotiate Peace to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received 2:50 p.m.]
3. From Grew. In view of the Department’s decision that the telegraphic communications of the Commission will not be handled by the Navy at the Washington end, Admiral Benson has informed me through Commander Ingersoll that the Navy does not wish to handle the Paris end, which would entail divided responsibility. Accordingly, upon the arrival of personnel from the State Department, the Navy will withdraw its personnel now assisting us and has already released the reserve communication personnel of the Navy now being held in London.
It is impossible to foresee how large a corps of coding clerks will be required by the Commission, but it is probable that the six men being sent out by the Department will eventually be far from adequate. [Page 181] I wish to bring the foregoing situation to the Department’s attention.