ROOSEVELT TO CHURCHILL

MARCH 1944

• ' j

·•

2 !.!M\CH 19M~

FROM: OP:t:.V 1"0 .;LUS!:1\ , LOtJOON

Yout- Nu.:nte:r 597. In view agree.·:-~ent. for alt ernate origir>..'tt.ion

for r elet:se !.1arch lOth:

QUO'ff... De~pit.e the increasi:'lg t r a!'fic of United Nations shippinG

in the At lRnti.c, ?ebruar y 19M.~ .. , a:::; the lo-,;cst month as to tonnage

of Allied r..e rcht.nt ship loe$CS to enruy U-boli.t action since the

United St.:lt.es cnter("d the wsr; nnd February · ... ·as the second lo-...·est

month of the cnt.ir-e wo.r.

l..t;ain thel:·e were :nore U-lk>at.s destroyed than merchant vessels

sunl< , $0 the excl\on;,;c r ate remains f t-.vor .... ble to the Ur.ited Nations .

I n actual nu-n'oe:"s tl. few ::I.Ol'C U-i.!oJ.t.s wer-e !;'Jn.':( in February than in

J .r..nuary.

The lack of acores~i veness on the part of the U-Ooat continues .

!Hi"'UOTE.

F.eleosed at 17'XJ,

ROOSEVELT

from the \.hitc Hou-s e Uc.p Rocx:~

t:r.T, 2~U..-ch ;:-4~:

C EM. FLS~Y Lie nt , U. ~. N R.

D!CI.ASSl F!ED If D:ruy Al"Chl'JH:-.; o f the U.S.

By J- Sbw.J: Dote .ffOY 1 107J

I ..

=-0001

... u

2 March 1944

'!1) PRI>!E J.IINIS1'1:R ;-no:.i TilE PP.l:.SIDEtlr . PEf<SOtlliL AND •••

Your Number 597. In view agrccr:1ont for alte!'nate origination

<lnd. your Ol'igination lb st. fr.onth, I propo:se the following statell.ent

f~r rele8se March lOth:

~UO'l'E. Despite t ite ir.crcasi ng traffic of United Uations shipping

in tho AU antic , Febr uo.r;r, 19ttl~ was the lowest :nonth as to tonnage

of Allied merchant ship losses to enemy U- Boa.t. a ction since t!"e

Unit ed St..'\tcs ent ered the war; und F'ebruary was the eecond lo"Wtst

month of the entire war.

A;;ai n there were mo!'e U- Boa ts dest rOyed thc.n merchant

VCS$Cls sunk, so the exchange rate r~4ir~ favorable to the United

Nations . I n actual nunbl!rs a i'ew :nore U- Doets l':ere sunk in February

than i n Jar~uu-y.

The lack of aggressiveness on the part of t he U-Boat

continues: . UU~U01'E.

Dl!:CLASStJ'nD 111 DOWltT A~hlvist of tbo U.S.

By W& ~u,•t ~ Dato OV 1971

' . 000 2

I I I

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FROI! The Preeid.ent TO The Yr1u M1n1tter

SERIAL DATE 2 llo.rch lV«

llA?F./Tl!!E 0~ FI I.E :,tllJl!l!R 022166 NCR 9S78

TOR IW' ROOM I VIA SUBJECT

ACTI ON

St·&telll!lnt prepered by Nny Depa_rt.Mmta dlapatoh d.iot&t•d 'oy Captt.in Wood in Map ROCIIIJ appro" d by Preddeut lD Dootor'• otti ce •

• :z. .. ... .J..~1'1'f""t- o~, .r "'-- <t4.

COPIES TO: BY t>lRF:C'!'IO:t OF:

AcTION rOl'PU::TED: I FILTDt I ~d!~~#C~~·~·~·ee-~' ·~~~~~tt~--~!&w~.(~=b=====.=======================

0003

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) !larch 191.4

DICLASS17UD If D6P'jt! Arc tvj st ot t he U.l.' 87 W • · Dato OV 1 1971

f'roo: Opna.v

To : Alusna, London

FAOW THE PRESIDENT FOR TifF. f'OAUER

NAVAL PE?.&>N.

Your 591, 592 and 595 rocel.ved.

1\e!errin;: to 591, I u ha>'itW the oil queaUon etudied by the De­

~nt. of state and m:r oil experts, but j)leaeo do accept =3 assurances

that we ar e not Wins aheep ' a eyes at your oil titldiS in Iraq or lran. I

cannot hol d off tho converaations much lonser.

Referring to S92, ,..e aleo are concerned about t~o appnr~nt concen­

tration or ent'!Dy forces at Singapore and uncertain ae to cnmy

1n\.ent.1on3 in that. area.

We are •endinc ou.r beat carrier with a destroyer eacort to joi,n your

naval force in t.he Indian Ocun.

Referring~ S95, Uncle Joe' s attitude toward your suggeat ed camp~

m.itle on the Polish problem is very dis4ppoint1ns.

I have Stalin' a message of February 26th addreaaed to both of ue in

regard to the loan of cisht. destroyers and requeatif\8 that at least h-.lf

of thea be or .a modern t.TPO. It. would eee2 that. the dest.royers you agreed

t.o deliver •ould be ve'l"/ ueel\11 t.o t.he Soviet Novy. I find thea h1&1>11

ef!lcient. tor eaeort dut.y.

Can you suggut. • n;rthing that would aeaiat in nw.k1ne a r eply to U.J • 1 8

me8saee r egar ding tho destroyers?

Relened from tho l'ilti\.e Houee Y.ap Room at 1150, D\'1', ) llerch 1944

Col h,IUT!!I:Y.SOII,S o,~. Cen r&l t&tt 020: IE I

a31WO ,vc~ 9./~s;-"

Ro ~~ ltu .. l"'

000 4

.e~ ' N

1944 .

PRI:.SIDEI:T 'l'O PP.IUE .f~J"s­Your sd( 59~ and 59S received ,

Referring to 591, I ao havine tho oil queetion studied

by tho Departnont of State end ~Y oil exporta ,

Reterrlns to 592, we also are concerne4 about the

&pporont concentration of enemy toroo e at Si~aporo and uncertain

as to enomy intentions in that oren. ~ ·

Wo 1~ cs nt o~ best oarrior with a dootroyer escort

to Join your naval force in the Indian Ocean.

Referring to 595, Uncle Joo •s attitude toward your

sugoeated compromise on tho Pol ish problem is very disappoint i ng .

I have Stalin's messace of FObruarJ 26th addressed to

both or us in re&ard to the loan of eight doatroyers and requesting

that at loaat half or then be or a modern typo . It would seem that

the deotroyers you agreed to deliver would be vary usefUl to the

Soviet Navy . I find them highly efficient for escort uut7~

Con you suggest anythinG that would osout in making

o ~oply to u.J• a message rogardin6 tho doatroyore? ....._ _...---... - ..

0005 -

t

FROII The Prealdwt •

SBRIJ.L 485

DATE S ltoroh 44

llATP./'ri!$ OR FI LS l1"lllmBR

TOR lW' ROO!t S~JBCT011 cootortnooJ ea .. y t aroo• at Sln&aporll Poll ah- P.ua•lau ro•

latioa• r t ran, rer ot lt&l laa 1hip1 to Rueel a .

AC1'IO~i

Prepared. by Adaa.iral Lea~, approTed by Prt dde.nt 3 Mar 4-4.

Q.;.i . "i.·-4·,.,..,~,.1 kr -p"' t:, " I ,

COPIES TO• BY D1RKCT!Oll OF•

I !'ILF.n,

0006

c t

-- 3 !WtCl! l9U URGSIIT

FROllo OPIIAV TO ALUSNA, LONDON

!IOIIBBR 486, PBRSONAL AlfD $ 1!3j, FROII Tal! PRBSIDSIIT FOR Tal!

FO!XER NAVAL PERSON,

In reply to ioeietont questioning at a prett contereQoe today I

eta.ted that ItaliaJl aeroh&nt th!pe and. war ahipa are now being ueed

1u our war ettcrt by the A.ll1e4 Weditorrllii.eaQ oo.m&nd &Did that &OM

of tho lt&liOII lh.ipa or aubet.itutoa tborotor trom the Br 1t1ah 011d

J.J:Ier1oan to:anage wi ll be elloee.ted to the So'rlet Nt.'fY to aaliet ill

their reqv;ire.ente tor their wt.r etf'ort.

ROOSIVBLf

Roloue4 trcm the 'llh1 to Rouae llop Rooa at 1204, 1IWT, 3 llaroh 11M~.

L. M.lrm:ti'SON, Colonel , G«Deral Start.

- l -

, DEOLASSIJPI'!D

81 Deputy A~ or tho u.s.

B W·~·~ D~to NUVll9'1[

0007

-

• \ . llareh 3, 1944.

PRESIDEllT TO PRIME

In roply to ins is tent questioning n t

a pross conroronco today I stated thnt Itali"n

merchant shlpe and war ships ere now being used

in our war ettort by the allied Uodi terranean eo~nd

and that some or the Italian ships or substitutes

therefor trom tho British end American tonnage

will bo allocated to tho Soviet llavy to nsaist

i n their ~oqu1rements for their \Vnr ot!'ort .

. w t

000 8

t

FROK The Pru1de.ot TO tho Primo MiDit tor

SERIAL 481 DATE 3 llaroh ISH

llATI'/TIIIE OR PI I.E !.'IIJJ!ER oneu !ICR"ee

I VIA ?OR )!AP ROOM

ACTIO~

treP<rod by Admiral Leabf,

Identical 11110u•,o aent to Marahal St-.11D·r 3 liar •••

Agoweu PM ' s #599 agd 11600. See ection slip on these mesaagos for detailed s t ory.

COPIES TOo BY DIRJ«:TlOU OFo

ACT lOll rO:'PLRTED 1 I Pl!Jil)•

0009

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PRJORlfT

PROM1 OPI!IAV '!0 t ALUSN.l, LONI)(W

11111i!E2 41ST, ~····YD PRBSOSAl., FOB !'8! P'OP'(BI !lAVAL PERSC:.

PlOW 1'.IIB PP.!Sl DOT •

b terrtns ywr 6&6. 11'1 •v .. aent with yrNr wuution .. h& ..

1l:tlt,;ote4 Jabrin Minion to i ntora M.it'lhter ot aul,arh that l't •

pr .. totat-ln-a of tht tbr•• J.lU .. U't preputd to cwte:r SA Ca l r -o

ttle,raph ~41ate ly to Waahi ~s~cn &Q)' reply that he may reoal•••

lD ~•• ot tht iool.udCIIQ ot th 'kllct.Da in Gt nual Wllaon • a

u • lt:. ...... to • t b&t he h the oorrtct ottlohl to ee~:~trol ~

RQOSBVBLt

R.hand fre~~ the Wblte Bouat Map Rooa at uoe, !WI', a X&.roh l9H •

- 1 -·ssw

-0 010

-1 ' -

t • I .

r.tarch 3 1 1944 .

PRESIDENT TO PRIJ>iE

Refer ring your 596 . In aeroomont with

your sugs estion we have lnatr uetod 3adw1n Mlsalon to

inform Minis ter or BUl tarin thot reprosentotivea ot tho

three a l lies are prepared to con~or i n Cair o with a

Cull y qualified Bulaarian Ui saion. Jadwin also directed

to telegr aph i!!U!Iodiatoly to Washington any reply that he

may rocoivo .

General

corr ect

In view o(' tho inclusion of the Balkans in

Wilson's ara~~ooma to me

oi'ficial to~ any miaslon

that he is the

torma ot Bulgarin .

DtcLASSUJ'ID By f6!t.z..~ :ochlvhlt or tbe u.s. &1 ~_: ~fj9At Dat.ol 19H

0011

!'ROll Tho ProtidOilt TO The Pr1~e M1n1tter

S:oRIAL 487 DATE ! llarcll liU

llATP/fli!E 0!154! NCR 9467 OR FIL!l ~,ltll!:o!!

TOR !lAP ROOII I VIA

SU~JECT Surre nder ot Bulsari&

ACTIO~ Anawera PU f69S , ~loh ••• aent to President at Hyde P•rk ••

WRITS 44, 292225Z, In BLACK 9 , 2928&7Z, tho Protidtnt diroctod tho t wr. Stettinlua be turnlahed copy for neoettary • ot1on . Seot to Sta.te Department on 1 Ka.roh 194.4.

Jadria )Uad oa ,1·nn 1nat:ruot1oae b7 OSS meu-.s• f26264, troa Dono.,a»: to 1'oul.ata. ( Piled 11310 Bulcvla.• )

Annrer to Prlu Kinhter prepared by Ad:lird L.,J\fJ apprOTed by Pl'uident.

Answered by Pol 1/J.S?. 5 Mar LL .•

I'IIF.lh

0012

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6 llarcll 1944

To s Aluena" London

NUIIBER 488. PERIDNAL AND, ... I . F.llflol TKE PRl!SID'Ellll' FOR THE

FOJIIJ!B NA V AI. P 'ElliS:) If.

'l'b&d< )'OU t or )'OUr !Maaae• !lumber 606. llo w1ll issue t.lle

otat-nt witho~t repeat wit.ll~t tho laot oenten.:e.

Roleaoed !rom tho 'llbito Houoo llap Room at 1830, EriT, 6 llareh 1944.

ROOSEV!LT

D!OLASSIJ'IED By Dr;tr Arcblvio% of tho U.S.

By ~·~'' Jlato 971

0013

I

PROIIJ OPNAV ro 1 ALUI!HA LOIIIXII

PI2!SOIIJ.L AIID - · 1'!01 tHE l'l\I:SlDDif ro tHE POI\Ul! NUJ.L PSISI!I. HCIIBDI --

tRW: l'OO lOll lllUJt llfSS1C£ SUIIB!ll 606. n ULL lSSIJE Tm:

SUTIII!liT WITI!OUT IW'F..lf WiflilUT 1111> WT $D;TDIC1:.

81 8T...]j!~1j 19...,..,,--__

001 4

..

-t ..

\.

FR<llt 'rbo President

TO Tbo Prilre 111111otor

SDUL L88 DAR 6 118rcb 19LL

1lAn:/TUC! 062)26 NCR 9996 01 Plut llllJtnR.

fOR IJ6l 822!! I VlA

SU~JECT lobrusry montbly subanrino warrcr e atatecen t .

ACTION

[!Q!!:WI)rS Plot 606.

AciJ:ol.ral Brown 4ra!t thla roply after consultation Witb tbo Pros14tnt. .

P'or co:::rpl ate ect.ioo atateaent, aea ftL~ 000 . 7

on February ()l Boo . 2•

au~lne wartaro

I

(

c<JPlES f(h """'' 8Y DJP.ECtfOlt OPt

AiN~OI'l'u;.TEDo ,

i ; : "' aa-n: .... L I PIJ.P.Di

0015

"'

...

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l

•

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r-J"'OI.: Opnav

To : Alutna, London

• '· ....

7 llarob 1944

IUIBDl lo8lJ, PE&SOII.IL .utt> - P!QI TilE PUSI»I'.IIT FOR 71!1

f'Oamt IIAVAI. Pfl!SON,

Rtc.J.pt. ia aeknowl.e<lged of 70\U" meaaa.aeo ~98 to l:ltl 1~t.~.oin.

t'bl.nk JOU tor rour ••1'7 Jciod ••NrC• to Wra. Rootevelt.

Rettrenc:e )'Our 601, I qTet 'ldt.b ,our proposed Jolnt toeaaage t.o

U.J. about dut royora t.o be ~Sent..

I • aendi~ JOU by the tOll.owlDi :c-a~e (£.90) ., rec:oa:~~~todaUon

about Ult lt&l.ia.n Oovuannt..

In order to try to put. at Het t he eonce\"'n or the It.al.i&n NaY)'

abou.t. U!.e:lr ~s 111hat. do JOU t.Mdc of aeftdil'lrl \he toll.Oidn,r to Gtntral

Wlleon and to the KavU Coer-Andere ill t.bo WeditU'l'afte&ft tor oontidt nt.ial

lntom.at.ion of I taiia.n oftici&l~t

QJOT.L .&.t T.t.er-.o it. •• a,ned. t.b&t. tlblpe: or Wit It&U-.n Ht.1'7

ahould be ute<l -.here t.ho7 ClO\lld bt aapl.oyed aoet. 8t'f"thU7 ap.iMt. tiM

coanon •1'14111.7· It • ae aho t.&'l''" in princdple that au .. i& 1e ent itled to

ber ab&rt in the inc,...._. ot Allied ,.._nl at.~ nwltJ.oc frat t.bt

w.rreodtr ot the It..Uan Fleet. lb.aaaia h now in uriJant n .. d or add.it.ional

M&nl •trtf'II'Ul. For t.b• preunt Oreat Brit&in ltd the United. Statu wUl

lend: eoM of tbeir ab.lpe: to lbu.t.a t.o OQai)C\Mt.e tor tbe help thQ a.re

r.coil'inc f.-ott~ the It&l.ian Nuy. It ie not 1nte:aded to tn.nafer UJ7

0016 -

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Your 60lS hit Ju.et. oome t.tt.er what appee.ro &bove ha<i boen prepared.

1 do not. think t.hert 1• ~ eae.enti&l. contUct.. 1 will w1ro you &&'&in in

• abort t.b;o.

ftal.Qaed trolll the Whlte Kou.te M.e:p Room •t. l)l.S, nrr, 7 Much 1944

L.. WA1HIXS>N, Colo eel, Oenenl. St.&tt.

?tzeh2 r

t ' II

1/(~ 67

0017

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-

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1

1

I

PROPOSED IIISSACE -- ROUGH DRAFT

OPNAV ll / At.USNA LONOON ~ ¥ J>f

JlECEIPT IS ACJO!OWLEOOI.D OF l!OUJ\ IIISSACES 598 '!'0 60S I NCLUSIVE.

TW..'K tOO FOR IOOR VERY KIND IUSSAGE 'iO IIRS. ROOSEVEL'l'•­

REFE!UliC& YOUR 60l I ACJU!l W11'H YOUR PRDPOSlD JOINT IUSSAC!; TO

U . J. o..bppfrrG OESTROYIJIS~ ')..._ ,,,,,;:;:s;-. ) l ~'·'

I JJI. SEliDING YOU BY Tl!E FOI.LOWlllG UE.."SACF,, UY I!IDllllWIDATION ABOUT

Til£ ITALIAN OOVEP.!Ilmrr .'it ORDlill TO TRY TO PUT AT I!FST TF.E OONCEIUI

OF Til£ ITALIAN NAVY ABOUT THl>lll SIIIPS •KAT DO YOU Tl!lll~ OF S£1/DING

TI!E FOI.L07liNG TO CDiERAL WI LSON liND TO Til£ NkVAL COUIWID!llS lN Til£

loUDITllUU.~EAN FOR CO:IFID:J;UAL INFOIUIATION OF !TALIJ\ll OFFICI.U.Sa

' AT TEHERAN IT liAS AGRUI> THAT SHIPS OF TilE ITALIAN NAVY

SKOOLD E USED WliERE THEY COULD BE alPLDXfll UOST EFFECTI VELY AGAINST

THE OOJillON ll100. J\ IT WAS ALSO AGJU:EIJ IN PRINCIPLE THAT RUSSIA IS

EliTIT!.Ell '!'0 HEll SHARL IN Tli£ INCREAS£ OF ALLIED NAVAL STRiliCTH

RESUISING I'ROII TilE SURR!liD~ OF Tl!E IT~~~R THE PRESDiT

GREAT SP.lTAIN J...'O Tl!E UNITED STATES WILL Lf.'D SOliE OF THEIR SlUPS

TO RUSSI! TO COUPIJ;SATK i'OR TIU. l!liLP TilU AR£ RI.CJ::IVING FRDU THE

ITALIAN NAVI. I T IS NOT Il<TlliDUJ TO TRAliSPER .:.NY ITALIAN SHIPS TO

RUSSIA. AT ~INT.' \ -

I ~j, 9- ~~-' '-- • 4;MiWSEVRT-r;? •

. --r.~ ~~ --~~... .v\1(1>../V- ~ c-~kJ..~.\ ~ ~ ~

0018

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. ' 0019

(

FRO II The President

SERIAl. 489

llAT~/TIME OR FILE Nlllll!ER

TOR MAP ROO!! SU,JECT Transfer ot I tali an

situation .

ACTION

TO Tile Prime llin1ster-

DATE 7 March 44

I VIA

ships; Italian political

Acknowledges PM mags 598 thru 607.

Answers PM 601 & 608. Draft ]lrepared by Admiral Brown after discussion wHh Admi ra l Leahy; approved by Preeident.

(PM #608 was received just as thismeeasge was being sent. Last para added; #608 further answorod in POTUS f/492 .)

Answered by P~ 161 2 .

COPIES TO : DATE: BY DIRHCTT.Oll OP o

0020

t

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7 ll~h 1944

to t .Uuana, London

NUliBER 490. PFBroNAL AND - · PII:>Y THE PJIESIDEHI' FOR THE

FOlllll!ll NAVAL P!RSOW.

Our advieee !roo ltel7 i .ndie&te that the politicel eituation there

1o repidly deterioreting to our disaclv&ntage and that an l.DMdiato decision

in brttklne the iapasae between t he preeent Gove.t'l"aent •ncl ~ e1x

oppoaition partiea h eaaontiel.

Oenerol llileon bn bad t.o forbid a atr!.ke eelled b7 three o! the

anti-Paeciat p&rt1ea irt the Naples area. 1 tear we are marl'* i nto a c1t.­

uttt.1on in lllhich tho Allied eut.horitioo will have to use force ag.ainet the

anti-Fueiat leadera a.nd rroupe.

One o! Gonorel lliloon• a t•le;rr...., or Feb""'ry 29 (NAP 634) reporte

that the Ooverraent. and the oppOsition t.1"e 11Ait1ng lor an indication ot

Gener&l. 'WUaon an 1mru:diat.e t"eply. Aa you know, we prefer the prog·ru put

forward b7 the a1x oppoaition partiea whl.ch 1nvolna the abd1cet1on or

Victor Dlmacuel and the delegation o t the prowere ot hie I\ICCteeor to a

QUOTE Lieutenant UNQUOTE ot the r ealJD, a cceptable to the aix political

parUea. Croce Me been Mnt.ioned •• their probable choice. General TtU....

eon and hie edYieere have re~ended the acceptance ot thie propoa&l and

are a-wa1tin.g our approval.. Wy teeli,n& 11 that • • a~d l lfNTe a.t tht

earllut opportun1~7 ~he ac~ive coo~retion or the liberal politicel croope

b7 brincing th.., into the ltel1an Oovern .. nt. DIOLA86Il'IID Br D(;"tr Aroblvltt ot the u.s. 87 ~~ c:;m,,,,t oa u Noy 1 rg:zr czs: 121 - 1

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It J'OU wUl aend inetNetion.a to rour 0\.ieta ot statt here, w-e can

11nd an acz-eed di.rectJ. ve to Gene.ral Wileon 1n t.be te.rl.7 part o! the week.

Reloaaod !roD the White Houae Vap Room at 1)15, EWT, 7 Karch 1944.

L. lU.'l'KDiSON, Colonel, Grnerel start.

or the tJ. s.

0022 -

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? t .. 6 J.nRCii 1944

...... ......... t '~

FRO .. : TO

OPIII.V (} ALUSIIA , LONllO!I J1

IIWD.!:R .. •••• ND Pf:i<oOHAL. F110t.. TilE J?JU.SlOENr FOR

TH.. JOR14ER NAVAL PE!<SON.

Our odv1oos fro3 Italy i ndl eata that tho pol1t1oal situation

~here ie rapidly deteriorating to our dlaadvantaao and tbet an

~dtata deoiaion 1n breaki ng the tcpaaae between the present

Co~erucont an4 the six op~s1t1ou pertlea la aaaaut1al .

ConerAl Wilson bas ~d ~ torbld a atrika o&lltd by three

ot tbo ent1-7aeo1at parties in the Naploe aroe . I tear we ere

COY1118 into a situation in which the Allied autbor1t1es will

havo t o ueo rorce against the a nt1-Faeo1ot leedere end groups . __ )

(~ir"l!t't<>ft§ly-&Mt Out" pQ1.!9QbQ!tl4 he •o 1eof@P e1 tJlU~ ,

~l4 .•• a:wu.!.t..JH~ .... ~AAP.~!Y to,.. supprgp~ft•••-n·mepu b¥~

~ Ono or Gono:ral Wilson' a telegr.,.a or ll'ebruory 29 {IW 6341

roporte that the Covern2ent and the opposition uro waiting tor

an in41o.a.tlon or Allied pO~!cy with reg1.lr4 to tbolr respectiv"S

plana. I liiiOuld. U .k.& t..o give General '«!leon &D ll=edlate reply.

u TOU kaow, we prater t.he proaraa put torward. b7 t.he e1x op·

poelt!on partlee wbiob involves the ab41oat1on ot Victor ~nuel

and tbe 4elesat1on ot the powera or h1a euooeaeor to a 'UOTE

Lieutenant u~~UOTL ot tho realm , acceptable to the alx polltlcal

parti es . Croao has been ~ont1ono4 eo their probable cho1oe •

- l -

0023

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{.

OfORH • t

Oenere.l \'illlon and his a4v1ser s have reco:umondtd the aooapto.noe

ot thie propoaal sod ere awaiting our approvo.l . My reeling i s

that we should. uesurQ at the earliest opportunity the active

cooperation or the liberal pol itical groupo by bringing them

into the Italia n Government.

It you will aeod 1natruot1ona to your Cb!eta ot Starr

bore, we can leod e.n agreed direct! ve to Ceoera.l Wileen ia the

oar11 part ot the week.

Roloaeed trom the \\'bite House U.ap Room a t 10)0, ~~ . 6 KGrob 1944.

L. MA~N, Colo~el, Gene~ Starr .

l!y

11·~~~~~~----~a\o>--~~~~~~------

- 2 -

0024

- .

t

OEPARTNENT 0,. ITATt WA8HINOT0N

March 4, 1944

MEl!OIWIWM FOR THE PRESII>ENT

illll>Joot:

In oozpl1anoe

Propoeed Cable to the Prlae K~n1a~er on the Itall.an Pol.1 t.1oe.l 81 tu.at1on.

~ ,,.,..a....;. Jl-~ -

w1 th 1our aeaoran4WR or M.aroh •, I ha•e

prepared a propoeed oable to tbe Prime M1n1ater tor rour

oona14eratlon and 41epatoh it you appro••· In •1ew or

tbe rapid pol1t1o•l de•el opcenta ot the paet two ~ek1 1n

It.&17, ve reel tbe.t General VUaon 1• 1n urgent nee4 or

guidanoe. Aa tar ae ve are aware be baa not had &nJ replJ'

to hie eeveral

partlolpo tod.

Sno~o•ur• t

Draft oablt to the Pr1ae M1n1ete r.

0025

-PROPOSED CABLE FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE PRIME MINISTER

Our advioee rrom Italy ind1oate that the politioal

lituation there ie rapidly deteriorating to our disadvantage

and that an immediate deo1e1on 1n breaking the iapa11e

between the pre~ent Government a.nd the ux op:poe1 t1on

parties 1e eeaent1al.

~eneral Wileon has bad to forbid a etrike called by

three or the anti- Faeoist parties in the Naples area. I

rear we are moving into a situation in wbioh the Allied

authorities Will bave to use roree against the anti -Faeo1et

leaders and groupe. I reel etrongly that our policy ebould

be so designed that it would never be neoeseary to aupprees

these elements by using roroe against them.

One or General Wilson's telegrams or February 29

(NAF 634) reports that the Government and the opposition

are waiting ror an indioation or Allied polioy Wi th regard

to their reepeotive plana. I would like to give General

Wilson an immediate reply. As you know, we prefer tbe

program put forward by the lix opposition parties whioh

involves the abdioetion or Viotor Emmanuel and the d~lega­

tion ot the powere or hie euooeeeor to a ~UOTE Lieutenant

UN~UOTE ot the realm, acceptable to tbe aix politioal

parties. Crooe hae been mentioned as their probable oboioe.

General Wilson and hie advisers have recommended the aooept­

anoe or th1a propoeal and are awaiting our approval. My

reeling ia that we ehould aaaure at the ~arlieet opportunity

the active cooperation or the liberal political group• by

br\nging them into the Italian Government.

It you will eend inetruotiona to your Ch1er e or Starr

here, we can eend an agreed directive to General Wilacn in

the early part or the week.

..

0026

t

FROII The President TO The Pr1me 14in1ate r

SERIAL 490 DATE 7 l.iarob 191.1. nATR/TI!IE OR FlU: l31JlBER

TOR 1!AP ROCJI lvu SU~JEcr Ital.ian political eitu!ltion .

AM"IOll

(See 1'""' 1593; PO'l'US t/.83; Pll r594 for previous corresponclenoe. )

By mano to the President dated. 2 !,jar 44, the State Department sent t heir comments on Italian e t ttuati on as described by Gan '1/llson in NAY ' s 6)4 and 6)5. On 1. !nor , the President directed. State Dept to prepare draft IllS!; to PM. Draft csg sent to President on 4 Uor; approved; Siven to lolep Rooa on 6 lolar for transmission,

Admiral Brown d.irooted t hn t message bo bald up until he a nd Admiral Leahy could disuo aa 1t with tho President . Message finally sent, with obengee by the President , on 7 lllar 44.

Answered by ~ 1610.

COPIES TO : ~ATBo BY DIP~:CT!Oll OFo

0027

• '

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•

(

8 IW!CH 1944 \~ FOOl!: OiNAV TO Ji.LU::i.NA, LOl«<N

IMIBER 491· FOO:. TJU PR&;IDENT FOR TW! FOR.U:R NAVAL

PER.Oli, - AND P.i!MOIIAL.

YO\lr 61)7.

Kr. WeoVeeS}I wtll eo~ tor ua, bil tnatruotlo~~.e •t tbie

eta.ge 'bela;g oDl.y to listen to what tbe Buls-rlana ha•e to

l&y. Be la baing inror.ned thet Kr. MadrU.llan wlll bo the

Br1 Uab represontative , and. di~oted t.o keep 1o touch wit.b.

hi ... .

We asree that General Y.'ilaon , who will be reeponJ1ble

to tbe Combined Chief& in matt ere perta1n1na to the o.ot1vlt1es

ot tbe Bulprlon Mia91o n, sbou1d bo kept tully intoitDod. or

4ovolo~monto, and tbet he be dlrocted to hav& a military

reproeentet.lvo preeent .

ROOSEVELT

Releeae4 trom tbe Wbiu Eouse )(ap Rooc •• UOS, !'IT, 8 llorch 1944.

L . kATa-r.;oN, Colone1, General Stat't •

- 1 -

0028

• t. :

Fl!Oll The Pr eo1d <int TO The Pr1me,M1n1st er

SERIAL 491 DAt! 8 liar 44

~ATR/TH!E OR PilE ll'lll'ER

TOB ~f ROOII I VIA

SO~JECi' B~e.rian surrender.

ACTION

Answers ~ t 607 , which ~~• eent by direction ot the Presi dent to ot Rt e Department for pr eparation of reply otter consultation with tho Joint Chi ete of Staff ,

Proposed reply given to President by Admlr.al Leahy, 8 Mar k4 ; approved ; sent to CR at 1205 ~.

Agknowle4ged in f!l r611 .

COPIES Ot !Y DIRECTJO!f OFr

.

ACTIOJI r.O!'PIF.TEllt

.a.~ .... ;,._, I FI LI10t

.......

rr

0029

r

c

• u

8 .uJ!Ch 1944

FS>"': OPNAV TO hUIStiA, LONDOII

NIJlillJ::R 492. P-.:RSONAL AND .... FROM 'l'li.E PR:e::.IIlENT TO

Til,;; FOR.t.I!J\ NIL VAL P i!RSON .

Rararr1ng to your 608 , I can find no fault in your

propoaod 3t atament to Parliament contained in tho last para­

graph tllaroot.

Pleaac give me your reaction to tba coasage proposed in

my 489 to be aant to General l'iilson and to our naval colillle.nders

in the Waditerranean for confidential information or Itelian

otr1o1ala .

ROOS:!JVSLT

Rolen aed from the White Hou eo Map Room lit 1210, E>IIT, 8 March 1944.

L. J!Jd'liE'~SON, Colonel, General Start.

- l -

.-It b

0030

-- • • ~areh 8 , 194-4 .

PRESIDE!I'f 1'0 PRIIIE

Reterrl"d to your 608, I cen find

no t•ult in your propoaa4 atateoent to Pa~l1amont

oont~ined 1n tho lnst pnra&raph thereot.

Pleaso give rno your roaction to tho

ceasago pr oposod 1n my 409 to be sent to nonor8l

Wilson L~d to our nAval o~ndere 1n tho Mad1ter r ane•n

tor eont14ent1el 1ntorzat1on ot Italian ott1c1ala .

0031

------- -

PROM The Pr .. id ent TO 'l'he Prime Ministe r

SERIAL 492 DATE 8 Maroh 1944 llATP/TlUE OR FILB Jj!T>.Jll!ffi 081646 NCR 240

Transfer or Italian ships .

ACTION AnswerT PM 6608. (P•I u608 was aoknowledged i n

POW S 11489 .

Dr aft reply prepured by ndmiral Leahy ; approved by P r esi dent.

Acknowledsed i n P~ w611.

Answet~~ P"' 1612, which approna moaaase sug-~ested in 1489.

1)1,TE 1 BY DIRt:CTIOll OFa

ACTIO!i C'OYPI..RTEDr

Jh ta ;,, ,a./.14.-I FIIJ:lh

0032

[

8 MARCH 19 44

FROL: OPNAV TO ALU:>NA, LONOON

NU/JBER 493, •• IJ' AND PERSONAL , FRO !.I TlfE PllliSIIJENT

TO TilE FO~ NAVAL PERSON ,

Your 609. The reply to U. J. con tained._fher ein seems

to be a very cl ear and concise statement ot the British

attitude in the Polish cont rover sy.

I t will be of assistance to me i n handling our Polish

l complioe tions her e.

••

P.OO SEVE!.T

Released from t he 1\bi t e Rouse Map Room at 1 215, EWT, 8 March ~944.

L. MATHEWSON , Colonel, General Staff . By

By--'"'"*-'1

.. ~- -

-·-

0033

. .., y­...... PRESIDZNT TO PRIUB

Your 609.

.. L

Meroh 8 , 1944 ,

The reply to U. J . contained

therein seoms to be a very clear and concise

statement ot the British attitude in the Polish

controversy.

It will be ot nssistance to me in

handling our Polish complications hore ,

00 34

... •

PRO!I The President TO The Prime Minister

SERIAL 493 DATE 8 March 1944 nATP./TUIE OR PILE l~IW!ER

TOR MAP ROOJI SU~JECT

Polish-Russian relations .

ACTION

Answers P~ (609 .

Thi s reply prepared by Admiral Leahy; approved by Preeideot 8 Mar 1.1.; sent to CR at 1215'<·

Acknowledged in P~ q611.

COPIES TO : BY DlRI:CTIOII OPo

ACTIO!! r.m'PU::TFm 1

@;/tf'l:: cc ·• #(/.:+;; .. . ' I FILF.Tlr

. l

00 35

(

8 !.lARCH 1944

FR001: OPNAV TO .JIL UtiNA , LOliDON

NUWlER 494 . FR014 TliE PRESIDENT i'OR Tlil:: FORMER NAV;.L

PI5RI:lON. r ;,ND PEJG>ONAL.

Your 610. l~y Number 490 was sent with the purpose of

attempting to meet the difficult situation reported by

Oenerul Wilaon in his NAF 6)4.

I wieb mucb you would send mo au68eat1ons as to a

mothod that '0'111 be acceptable to your Ooverment ot cor-

4( rectina tbe serious situatlon reported by General Wilson .

•

It 1s my strongest wish that you nnd I abould continue

to work in complete harmony in this matter as in ell others .

We r:JIJ.'f ditfer on timing but things l ike that cen be worked

out, and on the big objectives liko solt-dotormination we

ure o.e ono .

HOOol:.'VELT

Released trom the White Rouse L.ep Room at 1217, EWT, 8 Karch 1944.

L. JI>AfliBftSON , Colonel , Ceneral Statt • .....

- l -

DICLASSIPtlll 87 D~t7 ~h1•iat ot tbe u.s . • , ~·~··¢ Dato NOV 1 197!

~,.,.t- -~~ Jr .. ~. ;({p'. t>rl(.s-• flei/.:?.<1-...

0036

.es•t ' t '

-

-u

PRESI DeNT 1'0 PRIJ,J:: lil!IISTER

Your 610. lAy Number 490 was sent .. 1 th the purpose of

attempting to meet the difficult situa tion reported by

Gene r al Wilson i n his r1AF 6$4.

{, , . J, '-·11{ fjh< '"'"''/.{ ilc.,./ ~1'=. I ·±' a 'in rr s•t . ) 8P?is t i E' <lf.t,!t: t 5 suggestions

as to a method tha.t will be acceptable to your Government

of correcting t he serious situation reported by General

Wilson.

It ie my strongest w1eh thet you and I should continue

to work in complete harmony i n -,...• .

1,l ~ 4 l "ft ~ J l ,,._ / 1~ .. .. (1~· ·-; ·''ti · ' I

It .. \ , , (

' t', I, r

IJICLAssrrm Br D\~ty A~robivht of the u.s. sr_ U}!._, _.a;ta~.t"IL _ _ _ Duo ..) OV 1 197!

-0037

-

0038

'• .,

• • ~")"'~~tid ~ aw: j ·.~ ihl~~ ~ t: f#-M M.A GYt!JwF"" ,.,_ ,.,.,/} , V( }}v\

rvv,. ~ IV\~ M ,:__ ~ ~

'

0039

t • I ,

FROII The President TO Tbo P rime /Jioister

SERIIJ. !lATE 8 Jaarch 191.4 llATl'/Tll$ OR PI I.E Nl1lll!!R

TOR MAP ROO!! I VIA

SUP.JECT Itel1ao political &i tuation.

ACTION ApawerB P¥ «610.

Dratt of this <1GBSoge prepared in Map Room by Admiral. Leahy and Admiral Brown; approved by President w1 tb minor cbnngea; sent to CR nt 12.1.7Q.

Aeknowl edgod in PM g611.

Answered by PK e618.

00Pn:8 TO• 1lATE1 BY DllU~lO!t OFI

L' 7 . . ~l~:~~T ~' ' - '-I P!Lr:),.

I j

••

·~

0040

(

t

•

OEORCfb

from: 0pn&T

to ; Aluena1 London

lliiiBER 495. PERSONAL AND •••

t'OR THE FOmiER NAVAL PERSON.

9 liard> 1944

FBOII THE PRESIDENT

lour 615. Congratulat1ono, •ell done.

ROOSEVELT

Release<! r.- the llhite Nouso ll&p Room •t 1900, twr, 9 ll&rcll 1944·

BOICE P. PRICE C.ptun, c. E •

.-rs N

-00 41

t .. J

FROll Tho Prosi den t TO The Prime !.11niat e r ·

S!:RIAL 495 DATE 9 ller 44 .

llATR/TIP!!1 OR FI LE Nli!IHER

' TOR V-'.P R2!!! lvu SU~JEcr "u• s1an oo nvoy; s i nking of 4 U-boets.

ACT lOll

ADIW!tS EY t61S· . l•ri tt en oy ' Presi dent.

'

COPIES f 0 1 'lAf£1 BY DlRFA:TlOll OP•

.

ACTIOll C'O''PLRT€D1 I F1LP.D•

~1-- ,,

-0042

..

'

t • L

U llar<h 191<4

f'Ral1 OPNAV

'ro1 ALUSNA LONDON

NUIIBER 496. Pa\SONAL AND ••• !'ROW Tilt PRESIDENT

FOR TilE FOml£11 !lAVAL PERSDll.

Your 616. Hor17 boo rono to tho lle.yo Clinic at

.Rochcate.r, lliMesota . Me stood the trip well, !eela reasonably

well but baa not gained weient. Ho 1o to he fat tened up tor the

nut. three or tour weeks and then t.hq 1d.ll decide Wether &D

opere t.ion ia neeut;a.ry.

I.e eoon t.a I ,.t ~ur iucription I will aend it

out to him. I know it w1ll do l\lJIIIII\lch aood·

Ro1oaoed from the ~te Houoo llop Room at 1920 E.W.T., U llareb 191<4

Robert 11. Borue Lt <~t> u.s.N. R.

ROOSEVELT

_. N

•

0043

TO : FO!WER !lAVAL PERSON

FROU: THE PRESIDENT

-u

llarch ll, 1944·

I

Harry has gone to the 1.\ayo Clinic at Rochester,

Minnesota . He stood the trip well, feels reasonably well

but has not gained weight. He is to be fattened up for

the next three or !our weeks and then they will <lecide

whether an operation 11 necessary .

As soon as I ge t your inscription I will send

it out to him. I know it will do him much good .

ROOSEVELT

___ ...

0044

•

PROil The President TO The Prime l~nister

SERIAL ~96 DATE ll Maroh 19~·4

OATR/~IME 120012 NCR 888 OR PILE !JT!IBER

jOR MAP ROal lvu SU~JECT lnscrip•ion to l.tr. Hopkins ebout S•ephen . lir.

Hopkins' 11!noaa.

ActiON

Answ4r• P~ #616 .

This meseogo prepared by the President , brought to the M~p Room by Miaa Tully .

(Also soo mea•• se s ent to lol1ss Tully by t.loe Prilte ~1n1ster!s Secretary, requesting that the PM be 1nto~ed when inscriptio n was delivered to •he Preei <lent end to llr. Eopl<1ns . l'tled "lll:>CJ...OT!u:.R ThAt~ Pll£:>lll£.<Tl><.IJ)

further answered in POTU~-Pia !SOO 0 15 Nar 4 I

COPIES TO : 3Y DJRECfJOU OPr

.1

~Act~I~OI~I ~CO~lT-U.~~·T~ED~r~--------~-l~-P-IU_._n~, ~~======~~~==~= ~ /o/1 /ltJWINJ, .friP,~tA/. . '

0045

- .·

-

(

'

t

l)l<a><hl944

F'rocl: Opnav

NUIIBill 497. Plli.IOSI.L JJI'D ... I'IW li!E Pl!ESIDM roll !'Hi POI!Imt

lllfAL PEa!IOS.

Your 617• in aped. fie: ~ t.o ~apb J the.reo!:

(a) There will be no epec.ltic operaUon in the Pacific

dur1nc 1944 t.l\tlt. w uld be •dvernly •tteot.ed bJ" the abaonce ot o

Brithh Fl·tet. Detaci:Jflent..

(b) lt. h net. a.t. the pru8flt t.be poa.s:1ble to a.nt.htpate

llit.b N.tt1c1ent. .catncy tu.tore d..,.elopae~ 1.n the Pac1t1o t.o

be certain th.at a British ncet. 0.\ac:bunt 'ldll no~ tJ. neocled

Utero cturlnr the y~ 194S. 'rut it dooe not. now appear that tuch.

a re1nforcenont wUl bo needed bototoe the Sullmcr ot 194,.

In eonaiderat.ion ot rec.ent eN~q dhpoalti on.s it. b rq peraonal

op1nion t.Mt. unlttt we have ~ct.ed b6d ludt 1n t..~e Pac:Uio JOU.r nt'I"N.

Coree .uJ. be or aore 'ral.ue to our eca.on elton. b7 naa.ln1"f in t.bt Indian

Oeea.n.

anc:i a.ro therefore tubJeot to chan&• it the circWDat.aneee: cha.nre.

Ral......S ....,._ \be 1rh1te Houae tlap P.oca at 121,, D"r, 1) Ya.rcb 1944

/PK. ~<---R. K. • Ill\9 Liwt.(JJ), USI!R IIRI !&I

0046 -

... Jl&rch 13, 1944 .

PRESID31lT TO PRIME .j d- <f 1 Your 617 , in specific roply to paracraph 3 thereof

(n) Thoro will bo no specific operation in the

Pacific dur1ns 1944 that would be adversely nftected

by the absence of a British Fleet Detachment .

(b) It is not at the present time poao1blo to

ont1c1pate with aurttclent accuracy tuture dovolopcents

in the Pacific to be certain that a British Fleet

Detachment will not be needed thoro during tho year 1~45 ,

but it doos not now oppoo.r thn t such n rolpforcomen t will

be needed before tho ·Summer of 1945. • ,

In oons1der~t1on of recent onomy dispositions

1t is ay personal opinion that unless W. have unexpected

bad luck in tho Pacific your novel force will be of ~ore

velue to our common effort by rennlnlne in the Indian oeoan .

DI OLABBIJ'In By D6puty Al'ChiviiJt, cf th6 U.S.

a, W~·~nf" Date l97t

0047

--· ...

t • lo:.

FP.Oll The President '10 The Prime IUnister .

SERIAL />1.11 497 DATE 13 March 191.4

!)}.TH/TIME OR FILE NllllBER ..

TOR l!AP RQQ!! I V!A

Stll!J!;CT Pacific e.nd Indian Ocean 1\porations.

ACTION

An awe rs Pld 617 .

~essage prepared by Admiral Leahy; approved by the Praaldant v.1. th alurations.

COPIES fOt DA!E : BY DlRECTlO!l OP 1

I

----------~----- '' - -------------- •!

ACTIOH rotiPIMl!lh '

3 ()() 'S t'a ....... I FILT.lh

0048

{

FROIO; '1'0

t

OPW..V ALU::;W.., LONDON

••

1) 14A!lCll 1944

~'Uiol.BER 498 , PJ::Rl>ONAL AR!:1C£ •• tTr, FRO.! TilE PJW:;IOENT FOR

TilE FOR~;~LR NhVAL P.Jl<>Otl .

Yl1th turther reference to your No . 610, I ~ sorry it my

earlier messages were not olea.r. I did not at an7 tine intend

to convey to you lfl'J 8t;reooaent that we postpone all political

decisions until etter Rome had been taken . Tho political

situation in Italy has devel oped rapidly oinoe our earlier

massages ; the military situati on has not kept pace. The capturo

ot Romo is still remote and major political decisions muat be

taken.

I do not li.ke haviag to use stern measures against our

friends in Italy, exoept tor gpod reaeon. In the present

situation the Co1llll4nder-in-Ch1et a.nd his political advisers ,

both British and American, have recommended thot we give

immediate support to the program of the six oppoaition partiea.

Thus we have , happily for once, our political end military

considerations enUre1y in harmony.

We do not need to intervene beyond into:nning the Execu­

tive Junta or our support ot their progroa, ea described in

tiAF 622, 624 and 628, and oontirm th1e to the King it neceasery.

The Italians oe.n present t .he solution to the King and work out

the program among themselves .

illtllllf/!IA - 1 -

0049

_.,...,j

(

c

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~.

t •

I canoot for the life or me unders t and why we should

beaitate any longer in supporting a policy so aWoirsbly

auHed to our "omr;on military and political aims . American

public opinion ·-ould never understand our continued tolerance

and opparont support of Victor Emmanuel .

otOObl!:VELT

Released from the Whi te Bouse Map Room at 1)00, ~'r, l) !Jarch 1941..

OGDEN S . COLLINS , Lieutenant ( jg), u.s.N.R.

I

~ - 2 -

0050

•

DEPARTMENT 0' 8TATE WA8HINQTO N

,,.rch ll. 1944

. MEKOJ!ANDUM FOR TilE PRESIDENT

SUBJECT: Proposed Cablegram to the Prime Minister on the Italian Political Situation.

Thank you for your memore.ndUIII ot lt9.rch a to

l·!.r , Stettiniue encloe1~g a oopy ot Mr. Churchill' s

mea~age no, 610, and your acknowledgzent, on the

Itlll1an political situation, Xou may consider it

advisable to answer some or the p~ints raised in h1a

telegram and I have drafted the proposed cablegram tor

your signature and despatch to the Prime Minist er, 1! ·•

you approve.

Enoloeure :

Dratt reply.

005 1

------------------- ---

Proposed Cablegrae from the Prealdent to the Prlllle M1niete~ 1n Reply to the Latter'o llo. 610.

With further reference to your No. 610, I am eorry

if ny earlier meeense~ •ere not clear. I did not at any

t1~e lntend to convey to you my agreement that we poet­

pone all politicol decleions until after Rome bad been

taken. The poll tic•l e1tuation in Ital7 hao developed

rap1dl7 oince our earlier llleesagea; the •ilitary situation

has not kept peoe. The capture or Rome 1o otlll remote

and maJor polit1o•l deo1s1ons must be taken .

I do not 11ke having to use stern moaeuree against

our friendo in Italy , except for goo~ reason. In the

present eituat1on the Co~ander-in-chief and his

pol1t1cal advioero, beth Brltlah and A&erican, have

recomEended that we give immediate su~port to the pro­

gram or the elx opposition partiee . Thua we have,

happily for once, our political end military oonsldera­

tione entirely in harmony,

We do not n~ed to intervene beyond 1nform1ng the

t xecutlve Junta of our aupport or their program, as

deocribed ln NAT 622, 624 and 628, and confirm tbls to

the K1ng 1r neoeaaar1. The Itel1ano c&n present the

aolut1on to the Klng and work out tho program e.mon;;

therneelvee.

1

,

0052

- 2-

I cannot tor the life or me underat~nd whf we

ahould heoltate any lonser 1n eupportlng a policy eo

ndmlrably sui ted to our co~mon mllltary and politi cal

e1me . Amer1cen publte op1n1on woulO never underetand

our continued t olerance and apparent support ot

Victor Emmanuel.

•

0053

,,

'" .. • ..

rno~ The President TO The Prl.me l.tl.n1st~r

SERIAL 498 DATE 13 .llarob 1941. OATK/TI:al • OR PILE l;lllmER

70R MAP 110011 lvu SU".JECT

I talian political e1 tuati on.

J.CTIO~

.,..l"s Further tftply to PI.: /;610 (Answered also by 1.91.. . )

Prepared by State Departme nt; shown to Admiral Leahy and Admiral

apprond Brov;n.

by President;

Answered by P» «619 . I '

II

li

COPI ES T01 'lA'l'SJ BY DIRXCTIOtl OP• II

. I!

. ACTIO~i fO!'PI.JttE!h I PTL?.DI

31?. * '' I ' i I

I '

- II 005 4

-~ .._

f.

t

•

t

JRO:.l : OPNAV TO A.I.UbNA, LONDON

• 1.

lS IOARCII 1944

N1I.WlEII 499 , ••• JID Pl!:dSONI.L, .IIROI.t 1'HE l'IUSl>lJ!J:liT

You.r 620. I em thr1ll4!td by t ho DEIV.d ot out" &ucoese

u.ndor Wingate. If' you wire bi.!J ploaae si'fe biz ay bee.rt.y

good wisbea . M8.J the @POd work go on. ftlla ur-ka an

epic eob1eTsaent. tor air- borne troope, oot. forgettilli! the

a\Uoa.

ROOSEVl:LT

Released tro~ the ~nite Bouoe Yap Room o~ l2SS, EWT, lS March 1944.

L. l.!A'i'BLl\"SSU I Colona!. , General Sta.tr •

£SOREY /~/73'1

- 1 -/ICR, /3fo3

.1. ttlll '

0055

-!

' r

llaroh l~, 1944-

TO: '!IJE PRl1.!E lllNISTER -# .,/ f'J. FROU : THE PRESIDE!it ~ .;z.. L am thrilled by the news or our su.cctll under

1\'inc,ate. It you wire b1ta please give him C'J hearty

;:ood wish.os. !JaY the good "Work co on. Thil Mrks

an epic acbleve.ent for a~r-borne ~roopJ, not forcet~tnc

the :ulte.

ROOSE'n:LT

0056

1'0 Tho P~ Kinhte:r

SDUL ~99 DAti .,. !1\fr liCB OR FU.It !JIUNJ.

TOR !lAP ROO!! SU,JICt ,

ll.yir\1 of bo or 'itingatu Lof1" ~r'llo Pcnt.nt.ion Br'iee(l.dea into en5 territor;,· in North Buna.:~..

ACTIO~

Antll'tln PW fi620.

Dr&tt. repl7 waa cltton by Adair:U. Leahy but was not used b)' t.bt Pr .. ident. Prc&id.ent wrote diepat.ch; sent 15 War 4L.

ACTlOII C'O!'PLF.l'Eth

IIR )00 c.a.t. I PILRno

0057

~,,

(

(

'·

15 I.IARCH 1944

FROM: Ol'NAV 'i'O ..U.U::.NA, LO•<DOtl

NU!.!BER 500, Pl!:I<OONJ<l. hND •••• YOR ThE FO!ltMER MAVAL

P~ N YROw. THZ. PIUiSIDENl'.

I nsoription for Harry received and forwar d ed to

Rochester.

ROOS:O.'V.t.LT

Heleased trom tba \'/hi te House Map Room at 1310, EWT , 15 14aroh 1944·

OO'l'CE P . l'JUCE, Captain , c. E .

- 1 -

005 8

THE WH IT£ HOUSE

WASH I NGTON

•

March 151 1944 ·

TO Tlil:! PRI..!E J.!IliiSTER

FRO~ 'l'H':t. Pt<£:>IuE.N-:&'

Inscr iption for Harry received

and for'Harded to Rochester .

ROOSEVELT

0059

- - .. t .

POOl< Tbt Pr&a1dont fO Tho Prime ~1nister

SERIAL soo DAR lS Warob 194/. llAT!t/tlMB 0! P'll£ •'lfPER 151746 llCR 1)67

TOR MAP R:QS! I VIA SU~JIC!

I naoription for 1tr . l!opk1no on Stephen' s dasth .

ACTlO}t

also lY~bop AQ~~eta P~.POTU~ , ! 61~, P07 ;:,; • IL9 , .ll U.e:roh 1944.

l Q Kgr t.l.: (Soo

Wrl~ton by tho Prea14tnt •

. . . •

..

COPJ!S t-o1 'lA!'!o IY DUtJo~JO~ 0?1

.

ACTIOII C'OI'PLRTlth I PI!JlDo

{U., K~ .~OJ.u.-'AI'

> 0060

.]

r.

l

{

' ( 0

15 llarcb 1944

Fl'CIIl: Opnav

To AlutM , London

NUIIBFJI ~1. PERSONAL• AliD - Fro!! THE PRESIDOO FOR '!HE

FOEW!R NAVAL PERS:>H.

l'e hu·• 4t.el7 been givinf 1\&r1.her t.hot&Pt. t/3 tbe eat.t.cr ot

llait,ed te..U,_ pro~ tor eh.Udl"tn and nu.niO& atd expeet.&nt.

QOther• in tM German-occupied count.ri .. of Illrope. .bb&uador Wi_rr.

ant. will thortly take up wlt.h youro Oovernnent. a propoeAl unde r llhich

such proa:rut mieht. be put into ertect initially in BclgiWD, )' ranee,

t.he Ntt.htrlandt, a.nd NoJ"''Ifa7.

1 bt..,.U. JOU.f' aost. ea.mu\. con.S.deration of t.hit propoaal_.

I am conrtnced. t.bat the t.he baa IJ"rlved ..t!en the cont.inutd wlUI.bold-

ing ot tood troa these categolea of the populations ot the occupied

eount.riea ie Ukelr to hurt our trionde tttore than our enemieo tmd eon-

c&qUent.ly to be in.)u.rio'l.ls to the United Nations ca.uae.

Releaa6d trocr. the Y!bite House Y:&p Room •t 1SS5, twr, 15 M•reh 1944.

BOlCI P. PBICI C&pWo, C. B.

0061 -

-•

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

li ;,0 (

Dear Winston:

lie have lately boon giving turthor thought to the matter or lic1ted reeding programs tor children nnd nursing and expectant mothers in tno Ger~an-oooup1ed countries or Europe. Ambnooador Winant will onortly t ake up with your Government a proposal under wh1oh eueh program• mlgllt be put into erteet ini tielly in Balgiu=, Prance, the Uetherlande, and llorway.

I bespeak your moot earnest cone1derat1on ot thlo propoonl. I am oonvinoed tbat the time has nrrivod whon tho continued wi thholding ot tood tro~ theoo ontegorioa or tho population• or the oocupiod countrioa ia l~ely to hurt our friends more than our eneo~ea and conse­quentlY to bo inJuriouo to the United llntione oause.

1'ho

Very oinoeroly youro,

/ ..,/ . '\ Jc.\ ,....,.....,

(\) {.).£ b;o{ I I' "'v~

Right Honorable Y' ~ ~ 111noton Churchill, H.P., * Prl..ale l'.l.nioter,

London.

0062

i

' Th& President

S~RIAL 50l

OATP/Til!E OR FILE lntllJlER

!'OR }tAP' ROOU

SU9J'£CT 7eod1 og progr~""' or .t.urope .

ACTION

r.li:llORANDUI.I FOR k'lLE:

TO The Pr ime Mi nister

DATE 15 Mar 44

I VIA

tor Oerman- occupiod countries

Mr. Rencberd of the State Department cal l od and aake4 if this message should go vut t hrough the Map Room channel s . Be sa i4 Seoretury Hull had brought it to the White House the morning of the 15th and the President bad okayed it an4 suggested it go by telegram or re41ogra~ Capta in Wood aa~at we should aend 1t out . < f:.fl«l f/. ~"'-'-

R. h. ld.'!ER.;,, Lieut , (Jg) USNR

Anawared by P•- PtCi..b t641. 8 Apr L4 .

(On thio p., 11250 .

COPIES TOt

s ame s ub j ect, see POTU::. e'243, 22 Deo 42, and l J an 4} . )

QATP.t B~ DiRJlCTJO!I OPt

--- ----. ACT !Oif ~O!'PU:TED t

J oo Jk., ... ·l

I PILF.Dt

0063

'

-

t

•

17 ll.t.reh 1944

L'R0111 OPNAV

T01 AIJJSNA LONDON

I'EllSO:I.U. AND- FOR TH3 PRDIE l!INIST!R PR011 Til&

P!IESID&'il' . h'tlll!lPl! ~2.

Thank you tor your Number 621, !larch 15, ropo~ing ~he

deciaiona of the War Cabinet with reepec~ to the Italian political

situation. I am in full ogreoment with you and them that we ehould

not permit our divergent. vbwa to beoo:no known publiol.y particularly

at this time .

Howover1 I at.ill feel that it the preUW"' of the Six

()ppoa1t1on Parties COM .. \o a point -.here it will have an adverse

e rteet on the aitUILtion, •• ebould aupport their proaraa. I think

that 'We ehould watch political developments caretull.y in Italy

&~ tho preeent with that in ad.r\d and keep tho mattor oonti.nUAll)'

before the Adviaory CoUl\o1l.

ROOOMLT

DICLASSirBD By Df~ 1 Arcbtvt•t or By \.0,

tbe U.S.

Released f'r001. the White Houee ltap Roo=., 1700 E,\'I,T, , 17 !larch 1944

Da••·--~~¥-~~~-------

L. Wathew.on Colonel, General St.att

0064

·-

• PROPOSED CABLEGRAM ~RC¥ THI PRESID!WT TO

THE PRDIII: lltlllSTER

Thank you !or your no. 631, llaroh 15, reoort ing

the deoieiona o! the W&r Cabinet with rewpeot to the

Italian oolitical eitu~tion. I &m in fUll agreement

with you and them that we ehould not oermit our

divergent v1ewa to become known publioly oArtioul&rly

at this time.

Howevar, I et111 feel t hat if the preeaure of

the 91• Oppoo1t1on Partiee comee to a point whe re

it •111 have an adverse e!feot on the eltuation, we

ehould wooort their J)r ogru . l think that we ehould

watch ool1t1c&l development• carefully in Italy !or

the preaent with that in a 1nd and keep the matter

cont inually before the Advioory oouno11,

0065

t • t.

,_ 'tbo Prl"eldeot lro Tbo PriJae

SDUJ. S02 lllln 17 liar LL

oii' it i.£ ':. n ,. ..

TOR ••• RMK lvu Sli1!JEC1' lta11an pol1t1&ll e1tuotion

ACTIOlf

Anewora PJ4 b621, lS Uar, o.opy ot Whlc b was s.ent t.o t.bi Seo ol- St~.-te tor proparat.too ot reply. Draft p repore4 by Sta~e. approved by tbt Pres1dent 17 Kar 44; I&Dt. to PM.

-

COPIII fO• "'"'' IT DlAECTIO~ OP~

I,

-ACTION ru.Jm. ~]·~ ·

. --

00 66

/

f

(.

• \ .

19 Yarch 1944

Frm; Opn.av

to : Alu.ana, London

IMIBER SOJ. PERS)NAL AND • ., FRCII THE PRESlD!liT

1'0.~ THE FORIIIR NAVAL PEllliON.

Recdp~ 1• &ck-lodiod ot your 622 IIVl 62), 'llle .1/:erican

Chiets or Statt have it.utd inst.N.ctions authorhi~ the d1ver­

o1on of )0 C-4?' o or ~o eqlll.volent C-46 aircrart hom the h-•

program to meet tlount.bat.tont a i.lllnediate nece.,lt.y with inet.ru-

et1ons to t ho A»erican Collllll&nder of t he Air Forceo, India- ElJ.n;.a

Sector , that thou pl.anoo should be returned to the Air 'l'ra.na-

port Coc;:.and. at tht Nrlloot. possible t:l!!!e.

'!he berica.n Chitta ot St.atf have adv1aed t.he Coo--ending

General, Amerlc.an Anq Air Force.s a.nd tbe CQI:r:.anding Oe.neral,

A:nerican A'rrq Foret• in that &rt'&. that Vountbatten •houlcl re­

quest the British Chiot• of St&tf to provide tho Additional trana­

port aircraft which ho neodo to support hia operations durlrg the

raaainder ot thie dry aeaeon.

Relea.se'Cl lros the nitt Kou.oe \lap Room at 1245, f.Wr, 19 llarcb 1944·

DlOLASSlf[JJ)

..

L, YATilDVSOH, Colonel, Oonoral Staff,

:~ W~wt tbo 0.1.

Date 1971

0067

.ar t.J

-

t

PRESI DEN? TO PRDIE

• v

1B llar<:h 1944

Reeeip~ is aekno-<le<!geo ot 1011r 622 and 62). Tho klleriean

q, ~fN/~!1 Ch.iete ot Staff have i:taued in.otruct-iona au.thoridng the ail 18 1Mite

ot 30 t-47' s or the equivalent C-46 aircra.tt. from the hump progNI.1l

to meet Uountbatt.cn' s Lmmediato necoesity with instructions to the

American Cocna.n:ier o! the Air For ces, lnd1•-tN.ma Sector, that

these plana& should be returned to t-ho Air Transport Cor:cand: at

tho earliest possible tioe.

'ITie A:leriean Chieta ot Statt ha•e &dvioeo ~. c-:.and1ng General,

Aaorlca.n Anq .Ur Forces f.n:1 the Coc:nancU.,na Oener.l A=erican A.~ '

Forcte ln that. area that llountb&tten ahoulcl requeat the British

Cl\ie!o ot Staff to provide tho ac!<U.t1onol transport 81rcra.ft. wbich

he noede to suppof1. hia operations durins the remainder of this

dry aoaeon.

DECI.ASSI7ID the u.s.

006 8

- N

-

t"RO~ The President TO The Prime Ml nistor

DATE 19 Mar 1.1..

1\ATB/TI!$ OR PILE ~111JBER

TOR !lAP ROOM I VIA

SllllJECT Jap otfeoei ve at lmpliel; ree.ss1gnmen t ot 30 C4 7 ' s .

ACTIO!!

(See stut us slip on PM /!622

Prepared by Admiral Leahy; approved by' the President 19 Mar 44.

COPIES TO : l>ATE 1 BY OlRECTIOU OP :

ACT lOll COI'PLF.'l'ED 1 Fll.P.lh

~ 300 Burma , I ndia , China.

•

0069

'

(

c

'

19 Ilardi 1!144

From: Opna.v

To : Alusna 1 London

Wl!BIR ,04. PERSONAL Am> - . Fllal THE PRESIDEI.T

FOR TilE FO!l!ll!ll NAVAL PERSON.

For your 1ntonaat.1on I have tod.A.1 aent. the following

me:Jsage to HarrimAn:

C<IJOU. Your l.4221S. Tho !.lllwaukeo can be delivered

at. a ~lorth Rueela.n Port. Please infonn. Admiral Stark port at

which deltvery 1a dooired and inform us by teltSTM lritat

arrangement--& can be made tor an early return ot WUwaukee'~

personnel. UlQJOT!.

Rol ea•cd .fl"om the \11\Ue Hou•e llap Ro""' at 1255, EWT, 19 llarch 1944

L. IIA11lll\'SON, Colonel, Oenerol S~a!!.

'

-0070

-

The President

llATF/TlNE OR PILE S'IUB£R

TOR flAP ROCI! I VIA

suaJEC'f l>o.L1v or;; of w!LWJ\UAJ:.i to north Russian <port .

AC'!lON

n.utJU-...,_AJ'i'll.> 1~221S, lS •sr " , forwarded r.>qu·1a~ rroa Rusaicn oov~ that ~~WnUA~A oe delivered to Ruasicn port 1netead of ~ or1~1ah r~rt. Prooident approved and dl:-ect od that. -LWr.llA..:..:.. bo soot. to Hue!)ien port .

t<oply to J\l .. bassador !terr1mo.o <inLfted by Ac.ll:lirul LeahYi approved by Pl"es!dent 19 War J.J.; sent to Hsrrlmon 19 Mor L4 . This moooago to tho PM Ia a ~uuto or the ~eseage to Harriman.

COPIES TOo 1lATEt BY Dll'llCI'10<i OPo

""' 450 lT"'-t ( 2)

•

AC'!IOll r<r.'P~J;TEDo I PlLT.Ilo

------L-----------------

•

0071

r t

J

20 MA!!OH 191.4

l'l!O"': OPNJ<V

TO nl.Ublll., LOKOON

NUtAJ:lt.R 505 , $ f ><Nll l?J:J<"ONAL, FOR '1'11l:. ~'Of..rt.R W.VAL

!':£,iliON }' ROJ.; TilE PR.<.::>lDl!lfi'.

neplyi~ ~ your No, 626, I have read ~~COb 117 and

ll8 w1 th muoh interest. On 17 lo.arcb I telegraphed to tbe

Ceneralieeimo aa urgent request that be utilize hie

Yunnan troops to assist the otfort reported in b~CO~ 117

anQ 118. I bavo as yot received no reply .

ROOSEVELT

Released fl"CU the lft'b.l te liouae ltap Room at 1240, !MT, 20 Karch 1944.

~sa~ ... J

OODUI S . COLJ.Itlb , Lieutenant (jg) , U.S. N. R •

..... - 1 -

-----0072

~ --

• •

Replying to your No. 626 , I have reed SI:ACOS 117

un4 118 with much 1nteraa t . On 17 l.4aroh I telegrQph.ad

to tha Oonoraliaeimo un urgent request that ho utillzo

his Yunnan troops to as•iat the otrort reported in

SEACOci 117 ~nd 118. I bava os yet received no reply.

426kEI

\ ---

-

0073

• • WAR DEPARTMENT

CLASSIFIED MESSAGE CENTER

INCOMING MESSAGE

PI!Oi(:

'1'0 :

SAC ::IRA

tola.rch 17, 1944 IICL.lSSITUD 117 .&aU.ority orJ,JocC:..:S~--sH-."[;;J;L -zt

Cbiete of St&!'f' By~ -. Af1U ... 0.~7Z Rl'TD.

SEACOS:

Joint Starr Mission, Washington

ll7

Polloving tor Prime MiniBter and Chiefs of Staff !rom Mountba~ten.

I have just returned from visiting General Stilwell on the Ledo front and l thought you lllight like to have a brief account or our activities in the main areas.

2. Hnkouns Valley. I have a lready reported to you the recent striking successes of the Chinese-Ameri: can Combat Foree in the Hukaung Valley in my telegt•am SAC 977 of the 9th Maroh. Gene~al Stilwell is most optimistic that he will advance some distance to the southward even to Mogaung and ~lyitlcyina. I hope it is e.ppreciated that the advanced eletnent of this force are

, supplied practically entirely by air on the same 11nes as Wingate 18 vbich accounts to some extent for the speed of their advance.

3. lt the Chinese-American Combat Force advances o.s t= as Mogau&1 and My1tlcy1na, General St1lvell has warned 1119 that a rou:t>th diVision v1ll be e&sential. In view or the manpower situation 1 ooneider this extra division should be a Chinese one and the 111ore eo as it will be the easiest vay fr0111 the logistic point or view ot e.ssim11at1ng tho 1'ourth division into thio force. The

CM-ID-13579 (19 Mar 44)

COPY No. THl MAKINO or AH EXACT COPY OF THIS MteSAOt IS FORBIDDtN

.., ' . ~

007 4 .

'·

WAR DEPARTMENT CLASSIFIED MESSAGE CENTER

INCOMING MESSAG

SE.~COS: 117 FACIE

Viceroy and c. i.n C. India concur in this proposal Which 1 am making separately in SEACOS 118 . I hope therefore it will be acceptable to you and the Pr~si­dant and that the Generalissimo will be pressed strongly to agree.

4. L.R. I'.G. Wingate's operations have already been reported during my absence in SEACOS 111. At a total cost of 120 casualties approx1matsly 12,000 men and 1200 ani!Ml s of the Third Indian Division are now vlthin a circl e of fifty miles radius centre lndaw area.

5· BROAD':fAY Airfield latitude 241 40" North, Longtitude 961 45" East, io nov occupied by British and AmeriC&!l 1'igbters and defended by one troop of Field Artillery and one troop of A/A A1•tillery vith a dug in stronghold which will be held.

6. Of the three brigades, 77 Bde. under Calvert is intending to block pel'!DAnontly all road and rail com­munications to the north, 111 Bde. unde~ Lentaigne will operate against road and railway Muntao-Indaw and will block ~iande.J.ay-Bh&mo communications. 16 Bde. under Fer­gusson which is descending on Banmauk and Indnv via the Upper Meza Valley bas already eneounter~d and ambushed suceesofully several enemy patrols.

7. Strongholds are to be established as ~oon as possible by lll and 16 Bdea. The enemy has been complete­l y surprised and the situation is promising. In tact, it may well turn out to have been fortunately timed in relation to the Japanese attack on the 4th Corps arsa.

CM-IN-13579 (19 Mar 114) DICLASSIFIED By AuthoritY of ~~a~e..,1_.$.___~

? $H-5'*:z - zl · ' ____..

By~::·'-_APR 101972

3 ~ COPY No.

T HE MAKING OF AN EXACT COPY Or:" THIS M ESSAGE IS FOROIDOEN u-nnu.tto .. uw

0075

-

• • WAR DEPARTMENT CLASSIFIED MESSAGE CENTER

INCOMING MESSAGE

SEACOS: ll7 PAGE - 3 -

8 , ftumber one Air CCQ<ant!o has nov been vorld.o.g vith Wio.gate for abou.t 4 veekB and during th1a period 1te aircraft b&ve flovn all over a~, obta~ information 1nvo.luable for the successful launeb1o.g of the operation. gor example, intrusion or P-51 for three days 1n aucceasion over Mandal47 revealed heavy concentrations moving on cer­tain routes and constant pbotograpb1o.g and strafing on the railvay from Shwebo to Mohnyin r evealed numerous locomotives and atocka. Again it vaa photographs by th1a Collml&lldo vh1ch revealed the blocld.o.g of Piccadilly by the enemY in time to prevent a disaster.

9. Th1s force baa vorked out a nev techniQue ot clone support of L.R.P. rorcee vith 75 mm. guns and ba~ookas and 1n add1t1oa they have carried out the only successful ex­periment of vh1ch I knov of drenching an a rea vith fuel and setting i t alight 1n support of !ntantry.

10. 'l'he light planes of this rorco have flovn cont1..'lU~ ously ,ver Burma 1n the hours of daylight and have already evacuated over 100 sick end vounded men.

ll. The outstanding teat hovover of this force is the construction of tho BROADWAY Airf ield • . Great credit muot go tq Colonel Cochran and hia force vho accompl ished th1e strik­ing effort or proparing and br inging into uso an a1rf1uld so far 1naide the onelll)'' a 11no1 .

12. Tne spirit of liumber one Air C=ndo ia splendid &nd I consider the great value of t his t:n>U of air oupport tor L.R.P. operat ions of the Wio.gate type hae already boen demonstrated during the past rev veeka. I very much hope that ve shall see the production or further Air Comrrandos at an early date.

13. I need hardly say that tho rroop Carrler Co~nd deserve great credit 1n connection v1th the flyio.g of W1o.gate• a forceo. !rhia b&urQ.oua oper~~df~ YNk carried out v1th an efficienc:y beyond pr&J.ae. A B n D 0 "'S

By Authority or+.::."""·-~--OM-II'I- l3579 (19 Mar 44) :SH -s:z;:;-z/

a,/?IJ/ilt~ toto~PR f~·19T.! COPY No.

THE NAKlHQ 0, AN EXACT COPY OP' THlS MEssAGt IS I"OAIIOOtN U•t•u 4u C.•IU

0076

-' WAR DEPARTMENT

CLASSIFIED MESSAGE CENTER

INCOMING MESSAGE

-- SEA COS: 117

14. !fth Corn•· On the front the Ja)}llllose !lave been maoo1ng three divisions vith the intention of C3ptur1ng tho lmphal Plain vhere they would find ~bundant food and all veather landing grounds thereby ~onatituting a direct threat to the RUMP traffic route. I have set out details ot the operations 1n full together vith the air supply problom in my telegram SEAOOS U2 and 113.

15. AMI&:lll• 15th Corp& one veek aft er auocesstul dafene1ve battle has resumed the ottensi vo 1n Arakan. The tvo outlying bastions ot the Japaneu ma1.D. poa1t1ons at

• R&zabll and S1lihob1n have been captured after aevore fight­ing. lian4 to hand at%'U88loa 1n deep dugouts and chambers inaide hUla resulted 1n heavy Japane.., ca.ualties. Prisoners atato the7 vere ordered to hold to the last and Japansse otricera coani ttcd sUicide.

16. In ltBl.edan Valle;y Weat Atl-icana vho supplied by air hed advanced vell againet alight opposition met Vith aotback when first enoounter1ng stronger onemy resiatance and hevo vithdravn to weat or ltal.edan village where they are reorganising and v'lll resume ortonai vo. 1'he;y have auccooded in one of their obJocto uhich wae to draw Japan­aao torcea from main front i n Arakan.

17. Request J.S.M. paso copiee of this signal to AXlOM.

Time or Origin l72313Z

lliPORMA'I'IOll: OPJ>

DICLAS6I1Iml n $ 87 Autbol'1ty off~.,~e~_;o,_. _ _..

OM-lll-13579

General Biaaoll General Arncld Admiral lUng Colonel Mathevocn Log

(19 Mar lt4) l7~11Z

.Sd -S':J::Z-71

mem

COPY No. THC. MAKING Or AN £XACT COPY 0' THII Mt48A0( 18 '0AOIDD£N

0077

- -

•

' WAR DEPARTMENT CLASSIFIED MESSAGE CENTER

INCOMING MESSAGE

T~: Br1t1sh Chiefs or staff

llarch 17, 19114

DICLASSn'UD

Info: Joint Ste.rf' ~i1oo1on, MACliiii By Aulborlty of.~'i::..£1iZ:Z.:

f'rom: SACSEA

SEP.COS U8 s7B/Je£ - . APR 10 l97l

i."ollolling for Chlef's ot &tnf'i' t'3peatod JSil lf~h1.naton, MACHIR fr-o~ MountbBtten.

General Stilvoll ha.a revo:.ted to mo ·th$t 1f ~~~a 84vaneo contin­ues a.a ho eonf'idently ox~Gato he will require <Ulother division to afford r elief for oom~ p~rt ot hie Gxisting 3 divisions and nustain the et'.f'ort. !!Ill ~:auld pr9i'G1' this 84d1t1onal d1 vision to be CIU.nese in order to have a bOCIOgeneou.e force and that it •hould come from tho Yunncn Force llh03e ofticen have e.lroady l'OCOi vod eome Alller!cr.n tl.'<!.i.nillg. I etrongl) support this re­quest and would u.ucb pretol' tbe .f'reeh d1 vision to be Ch1nose. Not onJ.y vould it b" ex~t•<>mo!y difi'1oult to find a Bri•tab or ! ndian division but ol oo tbo mninton.a.nee or a Obi neoe dl'lision •ould tbrov much l aso attl.tional atl'Bin on tho l inea of communi­cation.

T'ne increaae vould QOOunt t o about 12,000 me11 over tlle present totl>l or 58,000 nov in Ra..,h and opel'{..ting in Burma. There should be no dif'rtcul ty 1n aovina the persC>nnel and light OQU1p­:n9nt out of CMml. by rotu1.on~ ATO aircraft.

The dittioulties uhioh pr~vioue ly hold good i n your COS (Ind1a) 164 do not seem noll to (lpply . I lleve c onsulted tbe Viceroy an~ 0-in-C India botb of' vh~ o~o to tbe proposal.

Gener<~l Stilvell think11 thut the 0Gneral18e1mo may h3s1tate to releaoe a divisi on from tho ~~ Poree unless tbe approach 1a r.1cde to b1m by tt.e Primo £41n:< eter and President acting through Genaral Carton de 1-lttU't nnd ~,~eneral Hearn jointly. I hope there­fore that tbie method or o.pproacb 11111 be &doptod .

The American LRP Group (5307 COilJPOsito Ullit) h4s dono admirable ~-ork a.nd. OeneNl Stilvoll ;.a very 41\Xioua the t a eecond e11111181' Ullit obOuld be pr-ovided to Jl!'ov14e relief o in rotation. Tho 1ntel1tion is to lU!o this unit in conjunction vith the Ledo Poroe

Ct~·ll'l-13580

COPY No. TH£ MAJ<INO 0' AN CXACT GOPY or THlS MUSAGt JS f Of\IIDDtN u-uuutt•·u •

0078

• ..

t T WAR DEPARTMENT

CLASSIFIED MESSAGE CENTER

INCOMING MESSAGE

OEACOS 118

and not llith Brltieb Forc3a . I am conf'ldent of the operatioll&l neod f or this seoond W'li'c e.nd trust that tbe American Chief's of dtai'f will agree to pro"'.do 1 t.

Request J'SM pees copiell of this signal to AXIOi4 and l-IACRI!f to General Carton do ~inrt.

ACTION: CC•/S

Illl•'O Generel BiOO<illl General Arnold A<lmiral Kinrs Colonel ~lath<il!Json Log OPD

Cl4- Ilf-13580 ( 19 ~llll.'Cb ll4 )

no sig

T1.me of Origin l723lOFG

l746z lbv

DICLASSIFUD ~ 1 B7 Autbori ty of k $ .Sd -s-.:;2 - ?{

B7 Rll/i'- n"toAPR 1 0 1972

COPY No. TH~ MAKINO Or AN I:~CT C.OPY Or THIS MlSIAOl IS rORBIDD£N I4•U ttU"I U• tU

0079

f

F'ROl! Tho President TO The Primo ~inlster

SSRTAL 505 DATI! <10 liar LL .

n.u7/tl!3 ' OR PI I.E !>!llll'ER

TOR lW' ROOI&

Slfl!.rfCT Re !.loun t b>o tten ' 8 t.£,.00<> ll7 , &nd ;>ossio1l1 tlee of operot1ona in ''•r Eaot .

ACTION

Annwera ~M !626. 19 ~At LL ,

'l'bis lll8Ssage diotuted lr; Admiral Le"hY i n 1.18p !loom 20 lolar 4L; approved by tbe Pres1dont .

CCPI!S TOo BY DJ~P.CTIOll OPo

ACTIOII COl'PLF.TEih F'IUD 1 ;.R )00 Burma, India , Chi na

• 0080

r <0 ll&rcb 1944

From: Opnav

to : AlueN., London

IM!BtR ,06. PERSONAL Alffi .... FROY THE PRESlDEllT FOR THE

FOR!!ER NAVAL PEllSON.

I .. ,. ••17 alliJ7 wHh IO)'aelJ'. The old a~t.ack of grippe havin&

hu.na' on and on, le&vin&" ae ll'it.b an int.en::dttent ~r.at.ure, Roas

decided about a week aao that it ie neeee•ary tor •• ~ take a eooplete

rest. ot about two or tl\ree weeks in a suitable clJ.m.at.e whic:b I am

definitely planning to do beginning at the e.-1 ot thio mont h. I see

no way out and I am turioue .

I t -..1.11 therefore be i.Qpoe&ibl.e for m.o t.o got to A staff eeet.-

(.. icg in early Aprll. I bolieve that. sueh a .muttna on the Teheran ee&l.e

in early AprU would ~ .... ~ uae1W. e.-1 it JOU .,_ I wUl send ey

Cbiefo o! St.a.!t to Bei"I:IU~ for that purpooe ot oey U.e that sW.ta 'fOU'

•

convenience.

I tm glad you toel hardened about. OVEt<LORD. Ite aceom.pllehment

rn&y synchronit.e with a real Ru.asian break-t hrough.

Released !""" the 11111U Hcuoe lla.p Rooc> at 18:):), !.111', <0 lla"'h 1944.

1P~ A( lkr<-t-ROBERT K, li'!!J\S1 Lieut. (jg), USNR

ROOSEVELT

12hwN

0081

--------

l!aroh 20, lOH

• 1..

z,P ?.:un1 ll" ~tyn atta . or ripp ..ni h noloeen

le vos fro t e to time

M:r dee bot ~usld: c• • -i'!t necessary for ao to , , ~I((..

take a complete rest or ~ two, wooka in a suitable

climate which I an definitely planning to do

ttt the end or this month • .!l ~ ~·, .,..,, 1""7 ''">~./ beginning

~ .. .( ,;; '··- ~ .; /"" '··· .. I t will t horefore be 1mpoas1blo for mo t o tK'ieftri 91 I'~

o otoff meeting i n early April . I believe thot such a

moetins on t ho Teher en scala in early April would be

QOot usefUl and 1f you agroo I will oond my Chi efs of

. Staff to Bernmda for thftt purpooo at any time that

au1ta 1our eonvenioneo . ·

.l t __ I"A" I '·• / j• / /, .. . ~ ... ./ _./.. .. ./ £ .... t';. / ...//. I'<C • " /. ., I' • "'• ~ .... , .. .., -- ·~ .... ;,, ''/.. .. , .. ,: r." ,,,.,"'! tv4

(< ; t /, ( 1(7,. '' ,; /, I /, " •, • / ... ·~ t "'·"'......,. • " , D.ECLASSI"P'ItO

/ 117 D putr blvlat r tbo u.s.

Br-UI~~~ Dato ~------

0082

t •

, !.!arch 20 , 1944 . / ..:;g,.. ~~) (~ -7t'U . .. -7.

PRESIDEliT TO PRIME.

Replying to your 624 and in roforonoo to

your suggestion that we have a staff mootine on the

Teheran scale in Bernuda about tho fifth of April ,

it ~ not now ~ possibl~~oet that date .

lfot having had anr .opportunity tor relaxati on

since ~· recent attack or grippe ~nioh has not been

completely ei1minatod loaves me !rom time to time with

a tempora turo.

My doctor lflea C

tor me to take • cooplete

consid~n~a~

rest or n week or '" 1n

a suitable cltooto ~ich I am definitely planning to

do beginning at tho ond of this QOnth .

Oth•r CS xe 1 engagements Will liooaaa lbate b3

0083 -

The Pre•ident TO Tbe Pri me Mi nioter

SERIAL 506 DATR 20 Llur ch 191,1 •.

llAT'V'Tll$ OR FILE NlltffiER

TOR }W' ROQII

SU'IJ&CT Propoe~Q .lermuda oeet1 ng .

ACTION

AD§wera P~ q62L. 18 Mar 44 .

Thla message prcpt~od by Admir a l L•aby; approved by tho Pro.J id ent wi th altoroUons ;

Answered by PM 629 . 21 Uor u ,..

COPIES TOt

ACTIO!I ~O!'PLETEDt

l4l! 210 II""""UJJi<

)

6Y DlP.ilCTlOll OF t

I PILED•

'

-0084

_j '

f

(

•

22 llarcb 1'144

f'locm: Opnav

To : Aluana, London

IWBER 507. P!!JS)NJ.L All!) •• ,

I'Oflrol NAVAL PERSOII.

f1'.oll Tll~ PI<ESIDE!IT FOR TilE

Your 629 received and ~ Chic!a ot Sta.ft have boen told.

1 join you in hoping that we may arr6f18e to h.ave a r:::eet ing

~tore the great event is launched.

lrJOSEVILT

Rtl.~••ed: t'raa the 1Cirl.te House Kap Rooca &\ 122S, !.liT, 22 liard> 19U..

~. If.~~ ROBERT H. llYERS Lieut.( J8) , us~

...,, t

-0085

ll.aroh 22 , 1944 .

PliES IDY.l1T 'l'Q p;ms .;/' .5 () 7

./ Your §29 reo.@.ived end m7 71 J< V\ £., 1.. I~{,/ .

or Starr t Lf a ot s, · r ap ' r ' eM

I UiJSl as u :t:L

Chiefs

I Joi n you 1n hop1ne th•t we may

arrange t o have a meeting before .Q) u b t b n)? + t?eo

~ the groat ovont i s launched.

--0086

---------------------------------------------------- . • t

FRO!l Tho President TO The Prime Miniator

SERIAL 50? DATB 22 March 191.-1,

llATI'/Tl!.!!l OR I'I LP. Sll!JJ!ER

zt~OR~~~~~ROOM~~---------------L~v~u~---------------------- [I SUl!J!Cf oermuda ueeti ng.

ACT IOS

Agawers Pttl JJ629 . 2 1 '4nr 44 .

Dre.i't of this 1"&5861!6 Pl' purod by Admiral Loohy ; approvod by t he Pr esident 22 Mar 44.

COPIES TOo

ACTIOII rO!'PLP.TilD: "'k 210 cc:H»UUA -

BY DJREcnou or ,

I FILP.Do •

:

•

008 7

(

I

22 WIRCH 1944

liROlol: OPNAV

TO ALU::>NA, J..ONOON

lllf..WJ.:R 508, ?J:al::.ONJ.L AND ···=OR TlU: FORiAL.'l ~U.VAL

PE!ll>Oi'l FRO ... 'll!£ PIU.::.IDENT.

Your 630 , thank rou for t be i nformation as to the

present status ot the Anglo-Soviet disngreon>ent about

Poland. I bope your strategy will eooomplieh the best

possible advantage to botb of us .

R>OSEVELT

Released from the White House Map Room at 1210 , ~~. 22 Marob 1944.

dOYCE );' , PRlCE, Captain, c. E.

.. DICLASSU'IID

0088

.j

• •

lo(arch ~2 , 1941

'.,~~ ·-o ~ PRESIDE liT TO PlUI.!E . ~ • ' .

Your 830 , thank you for tho information

as to tho prooont status of tho Anglo-soviet

d.1sagroemont about Poland. I hope )'our atratoSY

will accomplish tho best possible advantage

to both ot uo.

ar

sr·;;~3f~~~~~,r------

0089 -

t

i'ROll. The Presidont 70 The Prime Min1oter

SEl!JAL sos DA!I! nATF./TII:E O:R F'lLR NIIJ!.P.ER

TOR tjAP ROOM I VIA SUI!J!CT Russton Polish rela~ions .

AO§Wft""B }'.., t610 . 21 lr4or LL .

i>rutt ot t.bis tJoee~o prepe;,.rod. 'Dy A<imi rul Leahy; approved without ctoQde by the President .

C~rtS TOr BY Dlti.F •• CTJOU O:'r

ACTlO)f C:O~ 'Pl.F.TP.1h ( Pli.P.ll1

~ 0S2 Rueaien-Poli sh reia~i a

0090

(

• ·~

24 .!ARCH 1941.

PRQ>I: OPNAV

NUJ.IBER 509, .11:1111:\' hND l'..:RSOriAL, RROM THl PRE.:>ID:ifNT

1 . ?henk you tor your reply contained in your ceble&

61) and 614 or Warob 9 . ?be point& you rcised haYe already

been brought to m¥ attention severa l tiMeS by Sacretar-t

Morgenthau and Secretary Hull.

I am•soTry if ~y messes• paused you anxi e ty . ~here is . '

no di~put<e as to the undoTstiandi ng on the handling of ques-

t · t1onabl e, 'itemJI undn Lend- Lease which wae reached between

ltr. Cro·Nley, Secretary Hull, Secr etary l&orgonthau &Jld Lord

Hall ta•, and to which 1 bad given my prior approYSl . As

Seoret~ry ~orgenthau stated at the meeting , tbie undsr&~nding

did r~ t deal with tho dollar position question and did not

preclude th e poui'b1l1ty of our reop ening tl>a t question in the

future should t he situati on seem to call tor it.

I r aised tbia dollar position question a inoe it is a

trou'blesome one of continuing concern with us here and doubt­

less with you . 1 hope that we r:ay be aule together to find

so~e reasonable solut i on to tbis problem before i t becomes

more t roublesome .

2 . In any furthor disouosion of these matt ers the

- l -

DI CLASSIJIID ., Dtputy ATch1•1at ot tbe o.a . • , \l);c::P,.t Da u JD\1 1!!tl

0091

(

!.·

zossosr • •

Treasury would be ~be no~nl oen~er of such conversati ons .

The agondu whioh Sto~tiniua has or topics ~ be discuss ed

in London ~ou no ~ i nclude the question of Brithh dollar

balanoee .

-----

) . The ques~ion to wh1oh you refer in paragraph two of

61L say be w1 thdrawn , although the Congressman oonoarned and

the ent ire fo r eign Attairs Commit t ee ere now al erted to the

issue . We will l e t you know ee soon as a de1'1n1 te decisi on

1s reached , and vdll oonoult tully before any information i s

proferred .

Released a t 1515 ,

ROOJF.Vl::LT

from the 11'1\ite !louse Uap Room ~'WT, 24 March 1944.

~w.fh~ RO.dERT W. cOGtJ.; ,

Lieutenant (jg), U . ~ .N . R.

QiBRET - 2 -

0092

t • THE 'SECRETARY or THit TI'ICA aUIItV

!n tW"SG8QCe Of ~·omo rJ'..,Or,_nd~ Of }'Arclo 10

to the Secrebri of ~tate afl't ~eer11lftry or ..,r_.:tat.ry ,

t.lf're ls Rtlnchec. 1;1 :su:;..)ust~d. cebl~ til be :ent to

the tril'le liinister in reply to He oobl .. Cl? onC.

C•l4 of J.n reh J .

This suc,:es t ed r•ply h•s boon npproved by

!lecr"'tnr}' hull r.nd !11" . Cr'owley .

0093

,It-.Sb t .:>-/ ~ ttl.

To : Yri"'e !.inlst•Jr •. urcllill

r'ro:n: The rrosiuont

..

. . ' ..

1. Thank ;ou for :JOUr rcpl•· containel1 in ;/Our cables

111:$ am: 51ft of , nrc J . "':1e points ;ou rc.ised !:ave c.lreai!y

oeen brou~t to ~ attention several t~~s bJ Secretary

!..or;;enthau and Secretary HuH.

I e.n sort·,,: i1 tl'(l messn0 e caused ~~'oU anxiety . '~here la

no dlspute as to tho unuerstanttin>; on tne handling of ques-

tionable 1tems unaor Leno.- Leese wh1cll ;.au roached between

1:r. Cro·.rley, Secretary HuU, Secretnry _,orgenthau and Lord

Halifcx, ana to uhioh I had t:iven ~ prior approval . As

Secretary :.orgenthau stated at the n:eeting, this un<1erstanaing

did not deal 1.ith tho dollar position question and did not

preoluae the JOGsibility of our r eopening that question in the

future should the situation seen to call for it.

I raisea this dollar position question since it is a

troubleso~ one of continuing concern r.it: us here and doubt­

leas >oith you. I hope titat •. e ~ be able together to find

aor.re reasonable solution to this problem before it bccones

more t rocbl asome . J .

• 009 4

,

• L •

2. In nny !urtr.er c.iscussion of thee mattsrs the

" rorsur0 :.oulo. bo the norcal center of sue:, conv?rsations.

The 11.;en<la \lhich ~tettinius t.• s of to;>ics to be <iiscussed

in tono.on O.oes not i nclude the ~uostbn of liritish dollar

balances .

3. !"he question to which you re~er in paragraph 2 of

014 rna; be with<irawn, althou;;h the Congressman concerned and

the entire Fore~n Affairs Committee are now alerted to t he

i asue . ~~,i;i~IV~~~';ton as a definite decision v,// •

is reacned, and consult-' fully before any lnfo~tion is A.

proi'errod.

0095 -

-'

... ..

WIIIOJWjOOII FOR

'Ill! SECRETARY OF 'IllS TRf.AIIURT

a t.t•cbed. paraphra.ae ot the . .. N ge on 6oU....

l Incl.

QI!Brfl C. IOOD, Cap~n. u.s. ,. • .,.,

Aae1at&nt X.•&l Aide to the Pree1Uent .

Ut i I~ ttoa Prooidon~ to PriM Ninio~or, 24 liar 1,4.

0096

,,..,., To

No. 1

The Preaident.

The Prime llinieter

24 llarch 1944 . : DECLASSilUD Archiv is l of· the O.S. By Deputy

97'------•nov~~l,19m7~1~-­l)a.te•--.::.:::.:..--=---

1 want to thank you for your reply in your No. 613 and No, 614

ot 9 Warch, Secretary Hull and Secretary l.torgenthau have several tt Moe

brought to my attention the points you raise,

If my' message cauoed you anxiety I a aorry. As to the under­

standing · on the handling of questiona-ble ~tome under Lend-Lease reached

between Lord Hall f a.x and Secretary Hull, •. secretary llor~enthau ard . . . U:r, Crowley, and to which I had pre~ouely agreed, t here ie no ·~pute .

Th1a under&tanding, as Secretary Worgen~hau pointed out at the-'ll!e.et.ing,

did not deal with the doll ar po•1tio~ question, and did not pre~ude

the future reopening of t hat queetion ehould the ei tuation oeocn t o call

tor it .

This dol lar poeition queetirm w&:! r&laed by me becauee it ie

tro\lble.some and of eonti.nuiog concern ld. t h \UI here, ·~ doubtless with

you ae well. Before it baeomes more troublesome, I hope that we m&y

be able together to tin<1 some reasonable. aoluUon to the probl•.

Stet tiniuo' agenda of topico to be diocuued in London doeo not

includo tho Br1tioh dollar balance queotion, Tho Treaoury wou.l.d he

the normal center of convereatione in &Of fUrther diecualion ot thee•

uttere.

Although the entire Foroisn Af£a1ro eoa.itteo ali! th~ eo.,... • .,.. aen concerned are alerted, the que1tion to ..t\ieh fOU refer in paragraph

-1-

0097

- -

I •

·.

.. . .

•

OEHRI!i two of 61.4 may be withdrawn. Aa aoon aa a detinita dceiaion 1e reached,

·.

- 2-

·.· . •'

--

DECLASSIFIED By Deputy Ar obi viet of t he u .

By~--imlt<~~---­Dato. __ .;..:N.::.OV!.._.::.l -.!liJ.J97~J--

JEOPI£ -

\

0098

r

' FROll The President TO Tile Prime 11.1n1stqr

SERIAL ff 509 DATE 24 :.lar 44 •

nATr:/Tll!S OR FILE J~IW!ER

TOR IW' ROOII I VIA SUP.JECf

Dollar balances.

ACUOH An§Wgts Pw 1613 and e61L. 9 Mar LL . By direction

or the Pr •sident, these two Qess~es were sent to the Secretaries or State end Treasury on 10 Mar 44 for CO!ilment and reoo•amenda tions . Draft reply , approved by ~eo State, Seo Treaeur1 , and Mr . Crowley approved by the President 24 Mnr 44.

COPIES TO•

ACTIO!I rO!'I'LE'I'EDI l4R 002

DATE• BY nmr.oTT ou OP 1

I PIL?.n,

0099