Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, Conferences at Malta and Yalta, 1945

Hopkins Papers

The President’s Special Assistant (Hopkins) to the President

[Yalta, February 8, 1945.]¹

Mr. President:—The Joint Chiefs of Staff told Welles² that it would be difficult for us to defend their coasts against Japan. That is Welles excuse.

Harry

1. This note is undated but is assumed to have been passed to the President at the plenary session on February 8 in connection with the President’s reference to Welles and the reasons why certain South American states had not declared war. See ante, p. 773.
2. The Department of Defense states that there is no evidence in the files of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to substantiate this statement.