Foreign Relations of the United States, Conference at Quebec, 1944

Roosevelt Papers: Telegram

Prime Minister Churchill to the President’s Special Assistant (Hopkins)¹

top secret

London, 10 August 1944.

Prime Minister to Mr. Hopkins Top Secret and Personal.

1. I was on the point of telegraphing to the President about stage II² when I heard of your conversations with Campbell and Brand.³

2. I agree with you about the necessity of obtaining a directive from the President about stage II, which is a war period.

3. Much now turns on our meeting. The President has asked for a week more before giving a date and a rendezvous.⁴ He seems to be cooling off Scotland and talks of Bermuda. I am trying to persuade him to come to Quadrant. The worst accounts are given of the Bermuda climate in September. Let us know what you advise at earliest. I was counting of course on your coming with him.⁵

4. It was my idea to discuss the question of a directive with him at this meeting.

5. Meanwhile I hope that he will be able to issue directions to all concerned so as to prevent decisions being taken regarding American programmes for munitions and other supplies.

6. Perhaps you will let me know in your reply whether in the light of the above you still think that you should have at once a detailed statement of our case. If so it will of course be furnished, but we are inclined to think, subject to your views, that it may be better to discuss it with you at the meeting.⁶

1. Sent by the United States Military Attaché, London, via Army channels.
2. The phrases “stage II” and “phase II” refer to the furnishing of lend-lease aid in the period between the surrender of Germany and the surrender of Japan. For background on Anglo-American discussions on this subject, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. iii, pp. 31 ff.; Hancock and Gowing, pp. 515 ff.; Hall, pp. 434–447.
3. No memoranda have been found of Hopkins–Campbell–Brand conversations on this subject.
4. See ante, p. 13.
5. In a telegram of July 20, 1944 (not printed), Hopkins had told Churchill that he hoped to be present at the proposed conference between Roosevelt and Churchill (Hopkins Papers).
6. Although Hopkins’ reply to Churchill (post, p. 17) did not request the detailed statement referred to, Brand prepared a memorandum on the British position on August 14, 1944, and gave it to Hopkins. See post, p. 159.