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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Captain Richard H. Jackson, American Naval Representative to the Ministry of Marine

U.S. NAVAL FORCES OPERATING IN EUROPEAN WATERS

U.S.S. MELVILLE, FLAGSHIP.

TELEPHONE, VICTORIA, 9110          30, GROSVENOR GARDENS, 

CABLE ADDRESS, “SIMSADUS”                        LONDON, S.W. 1.

CS1                     March 18, 1918.         

REFERENCE No....

FROM:     Force Commander,

TO  :     Captain R. H. Jackson, U. S. Navy.

SUBJECT: Relations between Allied Naval Council and Supreme War Council.

     1.   The matter of relations between the Allied Naval Council and the Supreme War Council seems to have been settled for the time being at the last meetings of the Allied Naval Council, but for your information and guidance the following is quoted from a cablegram of instructions recently received from the Navy Department:-

“The Department is of the opinion that the closest relation should exist between the two councils, that all problems having a strategic setting should be considered jointly before final decision (but all questions that have a political bearing must of course be referred to home Governments), that tactical problems involving both forces, and now especially problems involving logistics, should receive joint [c]onsideration before acceptance”.

     2.   In accordance with the foregoing it is desired that you keep the Force Commander advised of such subjects considered by the Supreme War Council as may under the Department’s instructions require reference to, or joint action, by the Allied Naval Council.

/s/ SIMS.

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B. The letter is on stationery so the material as far down as the date is printed.

Footnote 1: Sims' Chief of Staff, Capt. Nathan C. Twining.