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  4. Document 196

Roosevelt Papers: Telegram

President Roosevelt to Prime Minister Churchill 1

[Excerpts]2
top secret
priority
[ Washington ,] 18 November 1944.

Number 649, Personal and Top Secret from the President for the Prime Minister.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Regardless of available shipping and availability of material in the United States, I have no authority at present to equip an eight division post war French army. I, of course, sympathize with the French point of view and hope that we may all be able to help her meet post war responsibilities. You know, of course, that after 1 Germany’s collapse I must bring American troops home as rapidly as transportation problems will permit. …

Roosevelt
  1. Sent to the United States Naval Attaché, London, via Navy channels.↩
  2. Other portions of this telegram are printed ante, pp. 16–17.↩