Roosevelt Papers: Telegram
The President to the Secretary of State 1
urgent
Personal and secret for the Secretary of State only from the President.
Tell Molotov I am sorry the staff telegram about the Italian ships2 was not clear. All I want is that the ships be used for whatever is the most useful war purpose. I hope the Soviet can use their third, and I see no reason why they should not do so. Personally, I think that after the war the Italian tonnage should be distributed equitably for the permanent use of the allies. In the meantime, it ought to be used by the three nations. This is certainly not a time to delay in the use of this tonnage by the three nations. This is what we intended to convey in the staff telegram which I regret was not more clear.