Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, Volume I

J. C. S. Files

No. 65
The President’s Chief of Staff (Leahy) to the Head of the British Joint Staff Mission (Wilson)

top secret

[Washington,] 15 June 1945.

My Dear Field Marshal: Referring to your letter of 12 June,¹ after considering the matter therein presented, the U. S. Chiefs of Staff think it inadvisable for the Combined Chiefs of Staff to meet in London prior to the meeting of the Heads of State. It is agreeable to them to stop in London after completion of the meeting of the Heads of State in case it appears at that time that a meeting of the Combined Chiefs of Staff is required.

If, after considering the above, the British Chiefs of Staff still feel there are matters they wish to take up with the U. S. Chiefs of Staff prior to the meeting of the Heads of State, it is suggested that these be handled through the British Joint Staff Mission in Washington, with the possible presence of one or more of the British Chiefs, the presence of the latter to be kept out of the press.

Yours sincerely,

William D. Leahy

1. Document No 57.