The British Prime Minister (Churchill) to President Roosevelt 63
795. We have found an extraordinary atmosphere of goodwill here, and we have sent you a joint message.64 You may be sure we shall handle everything so as not to commit you. The arrangements we have made for Averell are I think satisfactory to him and do not preclude [Page 1011] necessary intimate contacts which we must have to do any good. Of all these I shall give you a faithful report.
It is absolutely necessary we should try to get a common mind about the Balkans, so that we may prevent civil war breaking out in several countries when probably you and I would be in sympathy with one side and U. J. with the other. I shall keep you informed of all this, and nothing will be settled except preliminary agreements between Britain and Russia, subject to further discussion and melting-down with you. On this basis I am sure you will not mind our trying to have a full meeting of minds with the Russians.
I have not yet received your account of what part of the Pacific operations we may mention to Stalin and his officers. I should like to have this because otherwise in conversation with him I might go beyond what you wish to be said. Meanwhile I will be very careful. We have not touched upon Dumbarton Oaks except to say it is barred, at your desire. However Stalin at lunch today spoke in praise of the meeting and of the very great measure of agreement that has been arrived at there. Stalin also in his speech at this same luncheon animadverted harshly upon Japan as being an aggressor nation. I have little doubt from our talks that he will declare war upon them as soon as Germany is beaten. But surely Averell and Deane should be in a position not merely to ask him to do certain things, but also tell him, in outline at any rate, the kind of things you are going to do yourself, and we are going to help you to do.