May 29, 1950
Mr. Battle:
I have read the attached memorandum and would like to offer the following comments thereon:
In connection with the selection of the United States Representative on the Ocean Shipping Planning Board it is clearly apparent from the preliminary work done by the Interdepartmental group consisting of State, Defense, Maritime Commission and the NSRB that the US Representative must be a full- time Government employee at high Civil Service level.
The job in question will require the US Representative to make protracted trips to European capitols, particularly London, for meetings of the Planning Board. Prior to the selection of the US Representative \(Mr. Huntington T. Morse\) we considered a number of persons in private shipping business, but rejected them on their unavailability and also on the grounds that the US representative must implement coordinated US instructions. There would, I fear, be an almost irresistible temptation on the part of a private shipping individual, acting as US member of the Board, to free wheel and make international commitments for the United States without proper clearance from Washington. Despite Ambassador Douglas' comments on Mr. Morse's capabilities, there is complete agreement with Commerce, Defense, the NSRB and the Federal Maritime Board that Mr. Morse represents the most competent US civil servant in this field. We, therefore, feel strongly that he should be appointed and had, in fact proposed to announce his appointment Wednesday or Thursday.
With respect to the second paragraph of Ambassador Douglas' memorandum, we concur fully with his reservations on the Norwegian paper. The Norwegians tried to have written in the terms of reference of the Ocean Shipping Planning Board some of the points in their paper. We successfully resisted their efforts, but on the basis that they would receive further consideration by the Board when established. We will certainly see to it that the unsound Norwegian proposals never obtain acceptance by the Board.
I would be very grateful if you would pass on to me your observations on the foregoing comments.
Douglas MacArthur, II