Office of the Historian

Roosevelt Papers: Telegram

The President’s Chief of Staff (Leahy) to the President

[Washington,] 13 January 1945.

From: Admiral Leahy

To: The President (Hyde Park)

I have sent the following message to Prime in reply to his 886 (MR–out–12).

“Your 886. I have directed the State Department to take such action at an appropriate time through Steinhardt with the Turkish Government as is necessary to insure passage to the Black Sea without delay or interference of the ‘Naval auxiliary Catoctin, not a combatant vessel’ and also four smaller Naval vessels which are really mine sweepers and which the Navy wishes to send to the Black Sea.

“We will have Steinhardt give the Turks identical information regarding the passage of American airplanes to be used by my party and for daily mail trips. Signed Roosevelt.”1

Leahy

  1. The message quoted was sent as telegram “Number 700, Personal and Top Secret from the President for the Prime Minister”, dated January 13, 1945.

    Pursuant to instructions from the Secretary of State, Ambassador Steinhardt made the necessary arrangements with the Turkish Prime Minister (Roosevelt Papers, Stettinius to Steinhardt, Nos. 169 and 174, January 16 and 18, 1945, and Steinhardt to Stettinius, January 19 and 20, 1945).

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