OSS - GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1945

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
140
Document Creation Date: 
November 3, 2016
Document Release Date: 
September 26, 2013
Sequence Number: 
2
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 18, 1943
Content Type: 
MISC
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PDF icon CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8.pdf50.52 MB
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 INTEROFFICE MEMO TO: General Donovan FROM: Whitney H. Shopardson SUBJECT: Tho attached letter from Stanton Griffis will indicate tc you tho developments since you went away. In the oumstances, as he sets them forth, I did not do anything either ? (c) to hold him back on his short trip, erding at Costa Rica, or (b) to try to get the Department of Otato to intervene on Griffis' behalf or ours. taigUrc7711: Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 Itiaav ogee MIN ..er. Declassified and Ap roved For Release 2013/09/26 : CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 ; PARAMOPNT PICTURES INC. Mr. Whitney Sheppardnon Office of Stratocto Service th and E Streetn "Sr Ruilding Washington, D. C. Dear Ithitney: August 1943. I received quite a jolt this morning when I learned that the nource from whom I had expected to receive flying priori- ties had been informed that it was absolittely impossible to grant any priorities whatever to businenn men along the route which I hed planned to fly or by any route which would get me to the country which we have been discussing. It wan stnted as a fact that the State Department hen apnotrioally declared that they do not denire at thin time any further visitn by American buninass men to this country. I prenume this in all part and parcel of the action of the Board of Economic Warfare referred to in the newspapers thin morning. Our manarers in the various cohntries a),Ing the way and whom I planned to visit, have informed me that it in practically im- possible to get through prierition and the chances of my being loam than many weekn on the road are nil. Aecordingly, it looks to me in though I had bent not attempt thin at the present time for I feel that it wouldbe extremely riii"icult snd unwise, for reanonn that will he obvious to you, if your office should attempt to obtain pri- orities for me after I have advised the State Department that Iwen travollinr an a Paramount Pictures ofrioial. While all this in disappointing, I do not believe that it in of great importance to you or to me an affeoting the war effort. I have been spending, an you know, a great deal of time ntudying the situation down there, talking to visitors from there and getting re.. ports from American buninens men located there. After 1 maw you lent week, I spent two dayn r.:oing over Captain Goldberes files and read- ing in the cable room, etc. Captain Goldberg could not have been more cooperative. An a moult, I am pretty well convinced that if you act under the existing directives very little can be accomplished from the point which we diseunned. Thorn are fewer and fewer ships departing from this port for continental Europe and substantially all those which might be helpful or useful, co only to Spain and Sweden. Tho time involved is BO long and the results usually so negative that I am convinoed ()BB :107 ? 1' ; Pg ' t I ; PL16,1114 " ? t ? 47:5? ? 4 tr.4, '"04,1.7.12,41' nri Annroved For Release 2013/09/26 : CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 e L. * ? Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 ' ????????????????........g****MMOVIXIMarliP, PARAMOUNT PICTURES, INC. Mr. Whitney Sheppardeon , ? - Most 2, 194$ that there its net auoh point in expanding the present organisation in the oountz7 whit* we hem) discussed and I sus oonvineed that two or three *ore good *en, either in Spain or Sweden, could accomplish nor* than twenty in the location whioh we have discussed. Before the General wont to Burope it was somewhat of a tossup in our discussion whether we should have our Paramount :manager sane up to New 'fork to give us a full disoussion or whether I should go down there. Under the existing oirowiestances I had best try to bring his on up, stick I had planned to do anyway, on his routing visit to the hose office, jtio can thou deoide what, if any, use you woulid like to sake of our organisation there. As I had already planned to stop over in Mexico City and Costa Rica on this trip, leaving next Friday night, I had best, I think, go along and do sy work down there tummy. There is SCUM possibility of priorities out of Mexico City but they are slim. I do not bunt whether the General has returned or not but if he has, you will perhmps want to discuss this situation with his and tell his that at the moment, =less you feel that it is wise to sake a different (Manion, I shall plan to temporarily abandon any trip beyond Costa Mies. If you disagree with way eanolusions in this natter, please telephone as and I will of ?ours* be guided by your judpeent. I as always at your *all and perhaps it would be bettor to ride along and see if sone other cpportunity does not devolop in whissh I can be of son sonde*. Best regards, SGsOM S4C.R.E.c: t ? *81.40 ' 1?:.1 ? t? Sincerely yews, lie Ikea Griffis ? rehillftw. low,.?????414461?4.....' .-- ? ? 3, :1 C !lh 74.f Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 4.. ? ? Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 Mr w Stantoh Griffin Pont Pic:twigs Ince Ttmee Square New York, Ns Y. have your letter and am delighted that you him an itchy foot again; We would like to halm you move for um, andI want to talk with you jumt au aeon as I gat to Now Yorke ? Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 STANTON *purrs* OttAIRMAN, RXIQUTIVIC COMMITTIM General William X. Donovan Office of Strategic Services 25th & Streets leshington, D. O. 4 Dear Bills I am just back from Florida and several days up state, in connection with Cornell University matters. / was delayed in the South longer thin / expected owing to a flood of new legislation, introduced in the State Legislatures on properties which / am interested in. Since I was in Washington I have heard nothing from Harry Hopkins, nor have / attempted to contact him, but I gather from recent eveuts that the President is a little more alive to the importance of the matters which we discussed and is moving acoordinLly. / Imo"' I have heard nothing regarding any moves which you have been making. If you want me for anything, I will be glad to run down to Washington dt any time and see you m- or perhaps you would lunch or dine with me some time when you are in New York. I have gotten myself up to my neck here in piledwup companies work, but as I told you, I would always be on call for a foreign mission if I thought 1 could be of enough service to you. In any event, I am always under unending obligation Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 - ??1,ty Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 ? T,A!'4lf 7- t. -At?. - 4r"r,VgiTnitP1V.W.Iiiff: Mr. Uarry Hopkins The White House Washington, El. C. Dear Harry: Here is a copy of letter from Stanton Griffis together w41 photostatic copies of his report on Portugal and on %mine Wt - ? 0.1! , :????Sis? .^ '? ? Ittl? , - -r '1',1 ? ?F? ; I. ? ? ? 4 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 - ^ Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 ? PARAMOUNT INCTURIES INC* ? STANTON GRIFFIS CHAIIIMAKIIXICUTIVIC COMMITTILIC ? TIMES SQUARE CHIOKICRINO 4-7040 Colonel William J. Donovan Office of Strategic Services 25th and F Street Washington, D.C. Dear Bill; NEW YO CAM* ADORS6111/ANMN March 256 1943 I an enclosing herewith the covering letter to Harry Hopkins on the Russian putter, to go vIth a photostatic copy of my letter to you, dated February go 3.945 and my report to you on Sweden and Finland dated November 20, 19426(both attached hereto). Mrs. Marian O'Donnell of your attics has photostatic copies of: 16 My report to you on Portugal dated February 8, 1945, and 26 My report to you on Spain dated February 9, 19436 I yould appreciate it very much if you would have Mrs. O'Donnell attach these reports to the ooveriag letter. I am getting this off to you today by air mail as I promised Harry Hopkins that it would be in his hands at the end of the week. I shall call you on the telephone regaramg it on Friday. Every good wish ta you. , a ? ? Or If 04 ? 1061 ? 4' ?' oar:#41#141P.-- ? -deg" eV' Wit IT7 ? 111 ? I I - Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 _ . Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 ? " t''''''?"44/7PrT54447K1 P2417 Tk-VtqRC-trerglnINMMPPFnrgggWW'"r4a4W.'14Wgt'khia: Dear Dills X MI latelofpig herprith 004010124 10144, to Larry Xopkias ea w Seem*atturif is with a lo ' phostatio OM Vi et r te ye* ea re 1$40$ $ad tar report to yet* Swede* eat a Noverther Sit 19416 ars* Wriee Oileasoll et youx Otitis has photostatio copies Os 1. 17 report to you ea. Portugal tato* Tobresti 60 19000 Zia /*Wag this oft to you tour as I proolOsi Harty Sopkirts that he ta hits teads a% the oat vorthe I shall yea it ci the tele ea Pri4ley4 ii.ry good wimoi write" 4 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26 : CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 TIMES SQUARE CHICKERING 4-7040 NEW YO CA41ICADORIS8 PANI7UV STANTON GRIFFIS CHAIRMAN,I[XtCLMVE COMMITTEE Mrs. Marian O'Donnell, Office of Strategic Service, 25th and F Street, Washington, D. C. Dear Mrs. O'Donnell:- I am returning to you herewith the original copies of: 1. Report to Colonel Donovan on Portugal; 2. Report to Colonel Donovan on Spain; and 3. Report to Colonel Donovan on the DeGaulle-Darlan matter. I shall appreciate it, if you have extra photostatic copies of these reports and my other reports on hand, you will bend them to me here at Paramount marked Confidential. Please note also, the enclosed copy of a letter sent today to Colonel Donovan. The reports on. Portugal and Spain are the ones regarding which I telephoned you yesterday and I would appreciate it if you would deliver the photostatic copies to Colonel Donovan for attachment to the Hopkins re- port. anri Anoroved For Release 2013/09/26 : CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 ii ? ? M. Declassified and A proved For Release 2013/09/26. CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 e PARAMOUNT PICTURES INC. TIMES SQUARE NEW YORE March 24, 1943 Mr. Harry Hopkins The White House Washington, D. C. Dear Harry Hopkins: In accordance with your suggestion at our muting oil Tuesday, I am sending you through the courtesy of Bill Donovan 0 1. Copy of my letter to him dated February 9, 1943 covering briefly the effect in the neutral countries of Europe of their individual feelings regarding Russia. 2. Copy of my reports on Sweden and Finland dated November 20, 1942. 3. Copy of a brief report on Portugal dated February 8, 1943. 4. Copy of report on Spain dated February 10, 1943. These reports are pretty voluminous and I doubt If you will want to wade through them, but there may be some paraft graphs of interest to you. The letter on the Russian situation developed more fully in later discussions with Bill Donovan and in my talk with you on Tuesday. I should like to summarize the problea somewhat follows: In this particular discussion I am not at the moment concerned, nor do I have any definite thoughts on may for- ward commitments, or developments which may occur between the Allied Nations as the result of the final victory. / am concerned wiWa theory which if it can, with reasonable promptness, be "sold" to the Russian Government, can violently and immediately affect individu and governmental thinking in the neutral countries in Europe ? ' that is, the necessity for immediate emanations and statements lomatic or otherwise, by the Russian Government t4o the British American Governments of Russia's good-will and wholehearted tion to an extent that will convince the neutral countries that - t t Y'A tkW ' Declassified and A I 31 proved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-Rnpi 4 V./ Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26 : CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 0 mAtitmes IC ? , ?El. ? . .., : ..,! 4, ' ... .. '"'?or ,1 4 ? '-' . 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'? 2 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 -2- Russia, Great Britain and the United States are honestly working in harmony and union and not with such divirgent nationalistic viewpoints as may develop the present conflict into an ultimate war with Russia on one side and one or both of the two great Allied Nations on the otber. The neutral countries have to a degree, but not to any overwhelming extent, been pushed toward the conclusion now that the Allies may ultimately win this war after a period of great exhaustion but they are far from the opinion that it betides them any good if Russia and Russia alone should become the out- standing victor in Europe. Should they be forced to the con- clusion that the victory will be a united victory, whereon they can base some hope of national salliTiOrthrough the well recognized spirit of fair play of the United States and even of England as real partners of Russia, then and only then will they begin to strengthen their resistance to German demands, intimidations and economic pressure. have endeavored to point out to you that the belief is not only universal but becoming even more fixed in the minds of neutral nations that Russia is now going her own way and will continue to play a lone hand in the war and in the peace, if peace there be, that comes. It is obvious from conversations with many thinking and important citizens of the neutral nations; it is obvious from the news and editorial comments on countless incidents such as the failure of the Russians to show at the Casablanca conference; it is obvious in published telegrams and approaches to Russia that remain unanswered. It is evident in every foreign capital, in the cooperation of the American and British diplomats and the aloofness of the Russians. It is emphasized in the inter- pretations of the Stanley-Lease Lend incident. It is apparent in political utterances in the neutral countries and it is fostered daily by Mir. Goebbels. It seems apparent to me that the approach'uo Russia on this matter should be to the end that they are doing themselves and their war aims, whatever they may be, irreparable harm to permaMis situation and allow their own useless aloofness to stiffen the German morale and bolster the strong pro-German .240, ? "" ear..40?00..- _ ? ? I ' ? 11 - - Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 ? ? . '.4 ? ?? Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 -3- 4 I ? ? sentiment of waivering neutral countries. There is no necessity to couple the matter in hand with any present or forward com- mitments between the Governments, but the psychological effect in the neutral countries of an all-out change in the Russian attitude would be tremendous. It is possible that I may be over-estimating the matter. I do not think so. I believe that if this aim could be accomplished, it would do more and mean more in the neutral countries than all of our propaganda; radio, newsreels and the thousand and one other devices; do more and mean more than supplies of petroleum products, food, enrichment through pre- emptive buying, and all the rest of our goodwill policy, however effective this may or may not have proved to date. have pointed out to you that the menin England who have thought most on this subject do not bellOve that these results can be accomplished by any Englishman and you have only to review the history of Anglo-Soviet relations for the past twenty-five years to understand why. I have told you, and I believe it, that you are prob- ably the only man who can accomplish it with reasonable speed and efficiency because you are almost the only one, except the President, whom the Russians in general trust at all. If you cannot attempt it I hope that ways and means can be found to accomplish it for I know of no more important subject affecting the war today. As I told you I am going down to Florida for a few days on Sunday. My secretary will always knew where to find me and I am at all times at your disposal if I can be of service. With kindest personal regards, Sincerely yours, /8/ Stanton Griffis rn f. I j 3=2".11Litliume... ?-? I ? /111 j ? ? ? Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 OFFICE OF STANT ,.F,4441,4* " Colonel tilliam J. Donovan Office of .A,rategio Services ';40shia6ton Dear Bill: t , i Last Friday, February 5tho'oa sly tatu4n trap ? , I h rote you a long personal /*tiler whi.oh moat Into CO Embassy mailroom on Saturday in;id *0411,eirt, I titUalt Mk reach you long ere ttis. Since lima t 4400 I lev0 dlotfte summariss of ',he current situlattoAAA Potartssal 404 'ill -4-1 which are not yet fully typettr bQt X want to 1#-0-,ter off to you as 'early 1 have now spent atout four- t04"464*, h"ir '10,046;:stn] 4 . ,.. , 4 a / urope and most of this time s 0.913. Finland, Portugal and Saint orios. citim It _ Y,hs00on i countries and one with which we Ittowmiali, ' a$ Es* I have studied and observed aucal tiWsteitliarith a the national feeling with cou4ASSIv1141 :1; .,, i;t and in England, and out of the *sat 14 004A 4,f i ? 4 ' % obsessing thought which 1 sust 1t Ua overwhelming importance of, e Al dart the world of the Allies' Alat , .; 11 . ? 1 A _ . .4 . i Russian war aims. , ,,,.: :4, .),,i- ? ,k, . , ,, ? . ?,*; 4, In the thrie hadOali, Portugal, tha ebsolus * government and 'opal* based today not .ch will be tie best al acpirstions, not, 0; can, be establi4ed what ia Russia Shoot ,1 fJ4 m...40, ? '....-7:4# . '`' ?1:-4-.. , . . , `1 - ' ? :- - .1-1. )7. *; t t!.!1.14;tis . - ?? 1 . 1: V: 144441 rtti 1".-"f"ri;k4e41.. .4, ? al.i. , '''..--k. N? _ I ? ? -it. K . - ? . 1 1 z lit! Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 ,diaMitfiiMENIMMIUMININNIMMOIMEN 11111111011 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26 : CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 , kg; 13 4 P.a can baby tInd pet Sweden till the aaws come how), can let her grow fat end prosperoas it our expensa by pouri.ng millions of tons of materials into tne heart of Lie German war effort against us. And w0 can do every unconscionable thing in the fan1;estic hope that Swede!" will pa a friendly power when, as, and if we invade :lorway, :AA it will avail ue nothing so long as Sweden feels tliut, iler ultimate ene.ny is Russia. And when we LFive dore all tree things and Sweden fears Laut Russii r.iay sweep tlirou6h Finland to face her on Finland's west :cast, still come into the war on t'le side of CAroany and not on the sice of the Allies. 71' In :qmil we can buy Spanish oranges at five hundre dollars a ',ozen and we can fight Germany by any economic, 7sycholog1oa1 or propaLanda warfare, or by any method from cangster to kid-glove diplomacy, and we will still find that the p:uiding 3pirit of Spain is a fear of Boishevial c1 a hatfed of all things Russian, and that in the last analysis anytntng that is pro-Russian is anti-Spanish. In Portugal you can have an English alliance extendf.ng back for nundreds of years, an ostensible predisposition towards England and its Allies, and a deep admiration for America. ','ou c6n still be assured that if you scratch the surface of tte SU8VE friendship and the eonomic balance of Salazar, :Tau will find underneath an almost fanatical rnti-Russian. So ionp af3 we p,rmit the neutral press to treat the Casablanca neetirc interesting solely cn account of the vect that r. Stalin or his representatives "stood up" Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill, with the idea that ltussia wolid run its own war in its own wart just so long will wa. in tne last analysis accomplisA little or notniag in these c7)Intries although we my appear to be making tremendous :rogress. 1:4 The neutral world in Euro e, ?use as it zify be la, t'ds ideal, Hs to wiko will vin the *ati 0411 thinks that w.Ien tne war is concluded lar. $ta:11.4044 4.4 at the Ite6d .: of the table and say, 'Tell, whet did-yO4 boys do in ]94. ,! and 19' What victories did yolli wth while 1 was ca X5r ?r_ va. ;141e:t? otr the burden of Germany, an0 what tiy,4 41 anyway in. hilrone? Now go home aditi q , .. P , n- .ave what I want -. it's realL ,tir b- 1 %eI? , 6 Y , N .E1-: r anri Anoroved For Release 3/09126: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 r Ali of watch leads me to say that unless thin 41tua .1 is changad and clisn4ed speedily, unless in some woylve 0,n break down the Vusaien suspicion end reserve, either thrOu intellicont rep;.losatation in Rue01061 or otherwism, and - unless wt on by soma fortuitous effort force Rwilia into some kind of a real declaration of its war aims, Ile are making a lot of false motions snd doing a lot of ,Iseless work in the neutral soun tries. I do not know how tnis cLIn be ocoomplished. 1 only know that it mustemrri aceom- plished :Jome way. Probably the most astute political observer In Ex ltnc1 today is Senverbrook and after talking onout it prIvutely for four months he has suddenly come 04t with his stLeck in the House of Lords on the Enslist f411.ura to reuliy help Russia. Whet he has up hip sleeve I ao not know, out I feel confident that he would echo Wis feeling which 1 hove just expressed to you. I tiud u long talk with Dave Bruce on this matter lust night and I um coiag to try to ;persuade him to talk at length to Beuverbrook, who knows more about und understonds more of t4e Russian situat!on, I think, than anyone here, In thn menntime, I commend these thoughts to you in Washington. 1!7,k1 ?.11* Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 J nobeRT RUIN VC e P61E0113E141' NERAL CO.11413eL LOEW BUILDING 1540 BROADWAY NEW YORK Colonel William J. Donovan, Coordinator of Information, Washington, D. C. I received your letter of the 6th with a copy of the telegram from Stanton Griffis and asked our treasury department to comply with Stanton's re- quest. It seems as though a permit is necessary to change your banker, but I have asked them to secure it. Have done nothing about asking Will Hays because Will is in California and does not expect to be back until sometime in the next two weeks. It would be better to wait until he returns rather than to try somebody else who might not be effective. I am, there- fore, not sending it on to the Hays Office but will await Will's return. With kindest regards and best wishes, I NO MINCERMIIINT Ort COM WII.I U 111101NO ON WO Orkr0110q1014 44?;00' Ut , , , Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26 : CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 Here is(a cable 41on Stanton Griffis' think you should see it and pass it on to Will Haya. .41/4 mezz. ? - .4- tai,, _ Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/26: CIA-RDP13X00001R000100400002-8 11.11.1111111111111= 1.14, j$ ' 6 ,/r,.t.i.:'?:1 ; e