Leahy Papers: Telegram
No. 64
Prime Minister Churchill to President Truman
1
top secret
London, 15 June
[19]45.
Prime Minister to President Truman. Personal and top secret. Number 92.
- 1.
- During the progress of our conference from July 15th onwards, the King will be travelling in France and Germany inspecting his troops and I understand General Eisenhower hopes he will visit SHAEF. His Majesty desires to come to Berlin for a day. He would not, of course, take any part in our discussions. My idea is he would arrive in the British Sector and, if convenient to Marshal Stalin, would lunch with the Russians. In the evening there would [Page 99] be a dinner in the British Sector at which you and he as heads of states, and Stalin would meet. The King would leave early the next morning to continue his inspection. The reason why I have been led to suggest that he would not have a meal with you is because we hope you will almost immediately afterwards be in London, where he is waiting to entertain you. If however it is desired that he should attend luncheon the next day at the American Headquarters, nothing would please him better. The interruption of our main discussions would be very slight and Committees of Foreign Secretaries and so forth could go on all the time. His Majesty would take the opportunity of his visit to give a number of decorations to various officers of the Allied Forces, and I think it might be an occasion for rejoicing.
- 2.
- I have sent the same news, mutatis mutandis, to Stalin.2 Pray let me know what you think about this so that I may be in a position to advise His Majesty.
Prime