Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conferences at Cairo and Tehran, 1943

Roosevelt Papers: Telegram

The President to the Secretary of State¹

secret
operational priority

[Washington,] 28 October 1943.

For the eyes of Secretary Hull only from the President.

I am made very happy by your splendid achievement in putting things through. I know the China part of it² was due to your personal insistence.

Very confidentially I expect to turn up in North Africa shortly and would have to leave here by November ninth at the latest. I understand you are due back November seventh and I hope much that you can keep this schedule. It is imperative that you and I talk before I go. I would want to take Bohlen with me so you can use your judgment as to whether he should return with you and make an immediate turn around or whether you should leave him in North Africa to join me on my arrival there.

If the Marshal finds it impossible to meet me I suggest he fly as far as Basra even for one day. This is of supreme importance. The rest of the time I hope he would let Mr. Molotov sit with Mr. Churchill and me.

The Generalissimo will, I hope, meet us at close of the meetings.

All good luck and congratulations again.

Roosevelt

1. Sent to the United States Naval Attach, Moscow, via Navy channels.
2. Inclusion of China as a signatory of the Declaration of Four Nations on General Security, signed two days later at the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers and issued November 1, 1943; Decade, p. 11.