Hopkins Papers: Telegram
Prime Minister Churchill to the President’s Special Assistant ( Hopkins )1
Prime Minister to Mr. Harry Hopkins personal and most secret.
I am troubled at not receiving any answer to my telegram unnumbered of 30th March saying how vital it was for you and Marshall to meet me and the CIGS in Torch Land in the near future. Since then I have been greatly cheered to hear that you had telephoned Anthony in Canada, that you would be over here almost immediately. I again telegraphed, see my No. 279 of 5th April to President,2 pleading for Marshall too. Nothing could be better than a prompt meeting here and then going on to Torch Land if we thought it necessary. Several days have passed since then and I have no further news of you.
Meanwhile a most depressing telegram No. Naf 201 about Husky has been sent to the Combined Chiefs of Staff by Ike,3 and our Chiefs of Staff have sent a very strong rejoinder against it. There is also the question “Where do we go from Husky ” on which I sent the President a note which I had prepared for the Chiefs of Staff.4 All [Page 15] this emphasizes the need I have been pressing for nearly a fortnight past for your visit and that of General Marshall.
- Transmitted via military channels.↩
- Supra.↩
- Telegram Naf 201, April 7, 1943, from Eisenhower in Algiers to the Combined Chiefs of Staff, not printed; it expressed the view that operation Husky offered little promise for success should the area of the landings contain substantial numbers of well-armed German troops (J.C.S. Files).↩
- The text of Churchill’s note or minute was included in his telegram 279, April 5, to Roosevelt, supra.↩