LINDBERGH
URGENT
FROM STACHIEP AGGIE 0830 GREENWICH 15 April 1943
MSG NO 0003
TO ORACLE WASHDC
EYES ONLY FOR DDWHO GRAHAM
REGRET THAT TO OBTAIN ABSOLUTELY RELIABLE INTELLIGENCE PROM GALAHAD AND CAVALRY IT WAS NECESSARY TO GIVE MY WORD OP HONOR THAT THEIR IDENTITIES WILL NOT BE FURNISHED TO THIRD PARTIES.
STACHIEF END
TOP SECRET
LINDBERGH
Donovan waited until Graham had a chance to read it before he spoke:
"I can't believe that word-of-honor business," he said. "What the hell does Frade think the OSS is? The Boy Scouts?"
"I don't have any trouble with it," Graham said. "I think they call that 'honor.'"
"Jesus!" Donovan said. "You don't really think he thinks he doesn't have to tell us, do you, because he gave his 'word of honor'?"
"I think that's exactly what he thinks," Graham said.
"And he gets taken out, which is a real possibility, we then lose both Gala-had and Cavalry because nobody else knows who they are. Did you think about that?"
"No, but I'm sure Frade took that into consideration," Graham said.
Donovan shook his head in disbelief.
"The second one just came in. Take a look at it, Alex, and then tell me you still think you were right to leave who gives orders to who down there a little vague."
Graham took the message and read it.
TOP SECRET
URGENT
FROM STACHIEP BUENOS AIRES 1315 GREENWICH 15APR43
MSG NO 0007
TO ORACLE WASHDC
1. IN RE YOUR 545. TEX INFORMED BY UNDERSIGNED THAT ORACLE DESIRES IDENTIFICATION OF GALAHAD AND CAVALRY. TEX STATED HE HAD ALREADY INFORMED ORACLE HIS UNWILLINGNESS TO DO SO.
2. TEX STATED HE IS DEPARTING BUENOS AIRES TONIGHT FOR PORTO ALEGRE PURPOSE FERRYING AIRCRAFT PLUS PERSONNEL AND MATERIEL AT PORTO ALEGRE BLACK. ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN THAT ENORMOUS RISK OF BLACK FLIGHT BEING DETECTED UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES INDICATED NECESSITY OP AUTHORIZATION BY ORACLE AND UNDERSIGNED REQUESTED SEVENTY-TWO HOUR DELAY PURPOSE DOING SO. TEX DECLINED TO DELAY DEPARTURE.
TEX DECLINED TO FURNISH UNDERSIGNED DETAILS OP BLACK INFILTRATION, STATING UNDERSIGNED DOES NOT HAVE NEED TO KNOW AND FURTHER STATED HE DOES NOT CONSIDER HIMSELF OBLIGED TO HAVE APPROVAL OP UNDERSIGNED FOR ANY OP HIS OPERATIONS.
UNDERSIGNED RELUCTANTLY PROVIDED TEX LOCATION OF TEAM CHIEF ALREADY IN COUNTRY. BLACK INFILTRATION OF TEAM PERSONNEL AND MATERIEL PROM PORTO ALEGRE TO ARGENTINA WILL THUS PROCEED AS DESCRIBED UNLESS ORDERS TO CONTRARY FURNISHED STACHIEP PORTO ALEGRE.
UNDERSIGNED STRONGLY PEELS THAT EFFICIENCY OF ALL ARGENTINA OPERATIONS WOULD BE GREATLY ENHANCED IF COMMAND STRUCTURE MADE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR TO ALL PERSONNEL.