Foreign Relations of the United States, The Conferences at Washington, 1941–1942, and Casablanca, 1943

Hopkins Papers

Draft Joint Statement by the President and the Prime Minister¹

[Washington, June 25, 1942.]

Proposed Joint Statement of the President and the Prime Minister

On the safe return of the Prime Minister to England, the following statement has been issued simultaneously in London and in Washington:

“The week of conferences between the President and the Prime Minister covered very fully all of the major problems of the war which is conducted by the United Nations on every continent and in every sea.

“In the matter of the production of munitions of all kinds, the survey gives on the whole an optimistic picture. The previously planned monthly output has not reached the maximum but is fast approaching it on schedule.

“Because of the wide extension of the war to all parts of the world, transportation of the fighting forces, munitions of war and supplies still constitutes the major problem of the United Nations.

“While submarine warfare on the part of the Axis continues to take a heavy toll of cargo ships, the actual production of new tonnage is greatly increasing month by month. It is hoped that as a result of the steps planned at this conference our respective navies will further reduce the toll of merchant shipping.²

“The United Nations have never been in such hearty and detailed agreement on plans for winning the war as they are today.

“We recognize and applaud the Russian resistance to the main attack being made by Germany and we rejoice in the magnificent resistance of the Chinese Army.³ Detailed discussions were held with our military advisers on methods to be adopted against Japan and the relief of China.⁴

“While our plans, for obvious reasons, can not be disclosed, it can be said that the coming operations which were discussed in detail at our Washington conferences, between ourselves and our respective military advisers, will divert German strength from the attack on Russia.⁵

“The Prime Minister and the President have met twice before, first in August 1941 and again in December 1941. There is no doubt in their minds that the over-all picture is more favorable to victory than it was either in August or December of last year.”

1. As stated by Hopkins in his memorandum, post, p. 483, this draft joint statement was prepared by him from notes dictated by Roosevelt during the afternoon of June 25. Significant variations between this draft and Hopkins’ handwritten notes are indicated in footnotes at the appropriate places. This draft joint statement was considered by Roosevelt and Churchill at their dinner meeting on June 25, 1942; see the editorial note, ante, p. 454. For final text of the joint statement as released to the press, see infra.
2. In Hopkins’ handwritten notes, dictated by Roosevelt, this sentence read as follows: “It is hoped that steps soon to be undertaken will reduce the toll (Planes)”.
3. In Hopkins’ handwritten notes, dictated by Roosevelt, this sentence read as follows: “We recognize and applaud the Russian resistance to the main attack being made by Germany, and we are made happy by the Chinese resistance especially in view of the lack of aircraft and artillery in holding back the Japanese.”
4. This sentence was not included in Hopkins’ handwritten notes.
5. In Hopkins’ handwritten notes, dictated by Roosevelt, this sentence read as follows: “The plans for obvious reasons cannot be disclosed but it can be said that we plan and expect to conduct operations which will divert German strength from their attacks on Russia.”