Roosevelt Papers: Telegram

Prime Minister Churchill to President Roosevelt 1

top secret

Prime Minister to President Roosevelt Personal and Top Secret number 744.

Thank you so much for your 593.2 Things are everywhere approaching a climax, and almost always a climax in our favour.

Please try to give me a firm date for Octagon as I have a lot to arrange.

I am sure your journey to the Pacific must have strengthened the already buoyant situation there. One of the most important things we have to settle when we meet is what you want us to do in the Japanese finale and how we can do it, and also, please, what we would like to do ourselves.

Am off to Normandy tomorrow morning, returning evening, and on Wednesday night3 I leave for 10 days or a fortnight for [with?] Wilson, Devers, and Alexander.4 I shall be in full touch all the time and will communicate as usual, which is saying a lot. Every good wish.

  1. Sent to Washington by the United States Military Attaché, London, via Army channels; forwarded by the White House Map Room to Roosevelt, who was then in Alaska, as telegram No. Red 245.
  2. Not printed.
  3. August 9, 1944; but Churchill’s departure was delayed.
  4. Concerning Churchill’s visit to Italy, August 11–28, 1944, see Churchill, Triumph and Tragedy, pp. 86–127.