Roosevelt Papers: Telegram
President Roosevelt to Prime Minister Churchill 1
priority
Number 626, 4 October 1944, Top Secret and Personal from the President for the Prime Minister.
I can well understand the reasons why you feel that an immediate meeting between yourself and Uncle Joe2 is necessary before the three of us can get together. The questions which you will discuss there are ones which are, of course, of real interest to the United States, as I know you will agree. I have therefore instructed Harriman to stand by and to participate as my observer, if agreeable to you and Uncle Joe, and I have so informed Stalin. While naturally Averell3 will not be in a position to commit the United States—I could not permit anyone to commit me in advance—he will be able to keep me fully informed and I have told him to return and report to me as soon as the conference is over.
I am only sorry that I cannot be with you myself but I am prepared for a meeting of the three of us any time after the elections here, for which your meeting with Uncle Joe should be a useful prelude, and I have so informed Uncle Joe.
Like you, I attach the greatest importance to the continued unity of our three countries. I am sorry that I cannot agree with you, however, that the voting question should be raised at this time. That is a matter which the three of us can I am sure work out together and I hope you will postpone discussion of it until our meeting. There is after all no immediate urgency about this question which is so directly related to public opinion in the United States and Great Britain and in all the United Nations.
[Page 8]I am asking our military people in Moscow to make available to you our Joint Chiefs’ statement to Stalin.4
You carry my best wishes with you and I will eagerly await word of how it goes.