Editorial Note on a Telephone Conversation Between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Mackenzie King, December 22, 1941, Early Evening
No official record of the conversation has been found. As recorded in Mackenzie King’s diary (Pickersgill, vol. i, pp. 317–318), Roosevelt and Mackenzie King exchanged greetings and then spoke as follows: Roosevelt: “‘You probably know about a certain person who is on his way. He will be arriving in about two hours’ time. I will want you here while he is here. I will be having a talk with him tonight, and will let you know just as soon as I can, the exact time to come down.… We will be having an important discussion here. It will be to work out a [Page 60] long-range policy and also a short-range policy as regards the war. It will require very careful thought, and then will probably occasion much discussion. There will have to be a Supreme Council, and I am determined it shall have its headquarters in Washington.’ The President followed this remark by saying there will possibly be quite a time over this. I did not say yes or no to what was said in this connection, but asked if I had not better bring one of my Ministers with me, and mentioned Ralston. The President said that will be all right, and then asked if he had to do with naval affairs. I said: ‘No, that Macdonald was Minister of Naval Affairs.’ The President then said: ‘Better have him come also.’ The President then said he thought things were going pretty well. I asked him how he was himself and he said he was feeling very well.…’”