Diplomat Among Warriors

by Robert Murphy

This book is brand new and sealed, never read or used in any way, PERFECT!!

Genres: History, Memoir, Nonfiction

498 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[S.L. Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a dense book that is well-written about life in the Foreign Service. Originally before 1949, it was separate from the State Department. Murphy was a career foreign service civil servant pre-WWI to the early to mid 1960's. It is dense because of the wealth of material. The reader gets a close-up view of what was it like to be a diplomat in three presidential administrations (Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower). A large part of narrative dealt with Murphy's service in French North Africa, Italy, Germany and finally Japan during WWII and after the war. Because of how much I have read of the WWII era, some of what Murphy relates was not new (particularly in regards to Germany). The rest provided insight into the Korean War, Sino-Soviet relations, Lebanon, and other areas. It was very interesting and I learned a lot. The only ding is that the last chapter on the State Department was largely cumulative of the rest of the book. What new there was could have been folded into the last chapter or added into other chapters.

[Ian Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting memoirs of a professional diplomat, who suffered a foot injury that exempted him from military service. He was the first US ambassador in Japan after ww2, and a diplomat in Europe and North Africa before that. Many anecdotal references, some generous to discredited figures such as Vichy Frenchmen. Written with a pleasing style.

[George Siehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Murphy's, Diplomat Among Warriors, takes the reader for a fascinating tour of American and world history. It seems he played a part in, or observed , more diplomatic history than one person could manage. From 1917 until 1959 Murphy worked in the State Department and Foreign Service. He started as a clerk-typist and rose to the third highest position in Department; the only two positions above him were presidential appointees. Early in his career he was placed in important jobs that should have gone to higher ranked people, but short staffing meant that such people weren't available. He did well on each occasion, and flourished.

Of his first consular position in Munich from 1921 to 1925 he writes, "What I learned...about the behavior of victors and vanquished after the First World War enabled me to anticipate much of the behavior of the victors and vanquished after the Second World War. These recollections became my greatest asset when I was appointed advisor on German affairs to General Eisenhower in September 1944." In his time in Munich he met Hitler and other cofounders of the National Socialist Party. There would be many additional interactions with other now famous people ranging from Pope Pius XII to Marshall Tito, and Ernest Hemingway.

Murphy was posted in Paris when the Nazis invaded France. The US embassy remained in Paris for a time after the French government moved to Vichy. Murphy followed, then was assigned to North African French colonies. At this time FDR selected Murphy as his "personal representative" on North African affairs. He was authorized to report directly to the President, bypassing communication through the State Department. He then became a key figure in the diplomatic and military arrangement leading to the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942, Operation Torch. In this and the subsequent invasion of Sicily, Murphy first developed his workings with General Eisenhower. He also played a part in arranging the surrender of Italy to the Allies. Murphy's work on operations led him to friendship with the Yugoslav partisan leader, Tito, a connection that bore postwar fruit.

In preparation for the Allied landings in Normandy in 1944, Murphy furthered his work with Eisenhower. This working relationship would continue until his final assignment, accompanying President Eisenhower on his farewell international tour, Murphy serving as his foreign affairs advisor.

Starting in Italy, Murphy began dealing with Soviet diplomatic figures, particularly Andrei Vishinsky, a working relationship that would extend through occupation issues in Germany. Murphy details a number of instances of sharp practices by the Soviets including the poor documentation that prevented Allied access to Berlin through Soviet occupied territory. This led to the successful Allied Berlin Airlift. This action supplied over two million German civilians in Berlin areas under Allied control with food and fuel over an extended period.

His account of the Berlin access situation caused me my only disappointment in reading this book. The cause of the problem was the rapid convergence of Allied and Soviet forces on Berlin at the close of combat operations. The two sides had agreed on territorial jurisdictions for the occupation of Germany and Berlin. The Allies advanced faster than expected and took some of the areas to be managed by the Soviets. When the final land dispositions were made, the three Western Allies Britain, France and the U.S., each had a sector of Berlin. However, none of the Allies had a land allocation connecting to Berlin. It was assumed that they would be guaranteed surface access to their city sector and that they would hold off on turning over the Soviet designated land they had overrun. Murphy had raised this issue with the Allied group, the European Advisory Commission, suggesting Allied land occupation arranged as slices of a pie, meeting at Berlin. However, the American Ambassador, John G. Winant, objected, accused Murphy of, "not having any faith in Soviet intentions." Winant was firmly committed to FDR's "Grand Design" of postwar friendship and cooperation with the Soviet Union. When Murphy learned of the accusation, he replied, that "On this he [Winant] was exactly right." The final documentation provided no specified land access for the Allies to Berlin. My personal disappointment in this was Winant's position. I had formed a most favorable impression of Winant from Lynne Olson's portrayal of him in her book, "Citizens of London. " This action was soon demonstrated to be not in America's best interest,.

Murphy points out several instances of continued belief in the "Grand Design" in the Foreign Service, State Department, and elsewhere, even after FDR's death and continued problems with the Soviets. He writes, "Even today,[1964] there there are those in places of influence who have convinced themselves that a cooperative understanding with Moscow and even with Peking can be arranged. There always seems to be a supply of individuals persuaded that they personally possess some peculiar charm or ability to negotiate a deal." That observation seems quite apt in the new today, 2024.

While Murphy's posting were primarily European, he also served in mainland China during WWII, and as Ambassador to Japan at the time of the Korean War.

Murphy shares insights on some of the presidents with whom he worked, FDR, Truman, and Eisenhower, particularly. These comments involve personality, operational style, and political considerations. As well, he describes the organization and operation of the Department of State and the Foreign Service, the diplomatic cadre within the Department. Throughout, he displays the attributes an individual should apply to build a successful and rewarding career.

On reflection, I continue to be amazed at the variety of historic situations Murphy was involved in, and the wide cast of prominent characters he knew and interacted with over his 42 year career. It brings to mind the intertwined connections among military officers that novelist W.E. B. Griffin employs in his outstanding WWII military series, The Brotherhood of War.

Diplomat Among Warriors is not a novel, although the writing is as graceful and absorbing as one could hope for in a novel. The book has scenes of warmth, humor, excitement, and irony; This is all in addition to its informative, lengthy (but never boring) traverse through American diplomatic history in the 20th Century. A dynamic, first-class read by a doer, not a scholar.

[Frank Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succinct and concise, a brilliant read

A wonderful exposure of a brilliant diplomatic career. Murphy was a man who was in the room for so many critical historic events. He gives us a succinct and concise insight into the complex issues in French North Africa in 1942/3, Italy, Germany at surrender, post war Japan, Korea and Suez and of course Russia. A must read for students of WW2 and the pre & post war issues.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting memoir of career diplomat from 1917 to about 1960. Political advisor to Eisenhower during World War II, later involved in Korea/Japan. Read because I was reading other WW II memoirs, and read in conjunction with Harold Macmillan's WW II memoir because Macm. was Murphy's British counterpart as advisor in the Mediterranean theatre. (Skipped a couple of Murphy chapters).