Chapter 121 Volume 4, Chapter 11, The Fatal Problem of Lack of Ships

The East Needs a Mobile Reserve I Ask President Roosevelt to Borrow and Resupply Ships for Two Divisions and Ships to Transport Materials March 5th My Overall Observation of the Battle President Roosevelt's Response to the Japanese Battlefield I Request Consent for Ships IMPORTANT Conditions Potential and Outlook of US Troop Carrying Ships Distribution of US Air Forces Our Close Policy Alignment The President's Personal Views on Simplifying the Scope of the Strategy In 1942 He First Hinted at Opening a European Front Rising Trends in US Shipbuilding March 18th My reply to the letter from the President on April 1st.

The seriousness arising from submarine warfare has often alarmed us, and other events of great importance have failed to distract us from it.In early March, I wrote to President Roosevelt regarding the strategic use of our shipping power in relation to our import budget.It is my deep hope that he will lend enough American ships to carry the other two divisions of British troops to the East.As there are many fields and possible battles in the East, and no one can say for sure what will happen in this vast area, I long to have some armed force at my disposal.To have two divisions pass the Cape in May or June would give me a very advantageous mobile reserve, ready to go to support in the event of war in Egypt, Persia, India, or Australia.

former navy personnel to president roosevelt March 4, 1942 Since my return, I have been paying the utmost attention to the condition of the ship.This situation is likely to seriously limit our efforts throughout 1942.There are two main aspects here.The first is military mobilization.As you already know, we are mobilizing enormous numbers of troops, including an Australian Army of three divisions and the British 70th Division, which is crossing the Indian Ocean from the Middle East.In order to fill the void in the Middle East, and to send massive land and air reinforcements to India and Ceylon, we hope to send 295,000 from the United Kingdom within the months of February, March, April and May people.A transport convoy carrying 45,000 people set sail in February.Another convoy of 50,000 men, including aircraft from the Fifth Division and seven squadrons, was due to depart in March.The other two fleets, carrying a total of 85,000 people, will also set sail in April and May.In order to accomplish this task, we collected all the ships carrying people, and adopted all means to speed up the return voyage, so as to increase the carrying capacity of the ships.Even so, we are still 115,000 short of our original goal.

Due to this situation I have to ask for your assistance. I think we must all agree that the sportsman's plan (the British plan for various forms of intervention across the Atlantic from the East and the United States to French North Africa) is absolutely impossible to realize within a few months.For this reason, will you lend us some ships to carry to the Indian Ocean another two whole divisions (about 40,000 men) in the next urgent four months, with the necessary accompanying transport vehicles, artillery and equipment?That said, we hope to be able to start shipments in the United Kingdom in April and the first half of May.Combat loaders currently assigned to Operation Magnet (which transports U.S. troops to Northern Ireland) could divide that total by roughly 10,000 people.These ships, and any others you can find, can already transport a considerable number of personnel from Operation Magnet to the United Kingdom, and we can defer the rest of the movement.

Secondly, the freight ships at our disposal not only have to maintain a steady stream of important imported materials from the United Kingdom, but also have to send materials to Russia and meet the increasing requirements for the supply and supply of our Eastern armies.Not only in our country, but also in the United States, a number of ships will be diverted from the import business to deliver supplies to the East, since several of the ships that the United States assisted in the deliveries have been diverted to other urgent tasks.These circumstances, as well as other effects of the war in the Far East, will have a great impact on our imports.For the first four months of this year, we expect imports to be only 7.25 million tons, while the number of merchant ship sinkings has increased considerably in recent times.

This means that our stockpiles will be reduced in the first half of the year, and this situation cannot be allowed to continue and must be compensated by actually improving the import rate in the following months.We had made a careful analysis of the imports we had to acquire during 1942 in order to maintain our full strength and ensured that our stocks would not fall below the danger line at the end of the year; we were sure , in addition to the tonnage carried by oil tankers, the index of less than 26 million tons is unreasonable.This target will certainly not be achieved if our ships do not increase substantially.If let me know the extent of assistance we can expect to receive in importing supplies and transporting equipment from the United States to the Middle East given the increasing number of ships available, based on your monthly shipbuilding plans, then Will give a great assistance in all our plans.

on the second day: former navy personnel to president roosevelt March 5, 1942 1. When I look back on how much I longed and prayed for America to go to war, it is unbelievable that what has happened since December 7th has made the situation in England so much worse.In Singapore we have suffered the greatest catastrophe in history, and other catastrophes will befall us one after another.Because of the distance and the lack of ships, your great strength can only be brought into play slowly.It is not easy to determine the scope of Japanese aggression.Although full recovery was achieved in 1943 and 1944, a heavy price has to be paid now.The entire east coast of the Mediterranean | the front of the Caspian Sea now depends entirely on the success of the Russian army.The German offensive against Russia in the spring, I fear, will be extremely powerful.The danger to Malta was growing, and Rommel's reinforcements had arrived in Tripoli in large numbers and were on their way to Cyrenaica.

2. Since our last meeting, I have not been able to have a comprehensive conception of the plans of the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force for the war against Japan.I expect your naval superiority in the Pacific to be restored by May, which will continue to distract the enemy.We hope that by mid-March, in addition to the four already updated Ramiyi-class battleships in the Indian Ocean, two of our newest aircraft carriers will join forces with the Waspite, and by April a third aircraft carrier , In mid-May, the Valiant went to reinforcements.The fleet would consist of four new and some older cruisers and twenty or so destroyers.The ships will be based in Ceylon.After the fall of Singapore, we consider Ceylon to be an extremely important stronghold at present.Our fleet at Ceylon will prevent an invasion of India by sea unless a very large part of the Japanese fleet comes from your theater of operations; and I again express my hope that the growing United States Navy will act to prevent this from happening.

We expect that a considerable number of Dutch submarines will escape to Ceylon, and these, together with the only two we can dispatch from the Mediterranean, should be able to watch the Straits of Malacca.as far as we know.Your submarines from the American, British, Dutch, and Australian theaters will be based in Freemantle, and their purpose is to patrol the Sunda Strait and other outlets of the Dutch Islands. Any Japanese ships rushing into the Indian Ocean, we should not only pay attention , and should be dealt a severe blow.The next fortnight will be the most critical period for Ceylon, and by the end of March we should be firmly settled there, though not yet completely safe.

3. Since Tirpitz and Scheer are in Trondheim, our Northern Fleet must not only keep watch on the northern waterway, but also defend the Russian transport fleet.However, since Scharnhorst, Gneisenauer and Prinz Eugen were out of combat, and we believe that the Prinz Eugen was seriously injured, the tension has temporarily eased; we will use this opportunity to reassemble Rodney.Rodney and Nelson will be available for combat in May, but Anson will not be available until August. 4. It would be my pleasure to obtain from you a brief report on the dispositions and plans of the United States Air Force.We all suffered heavy casualties in Java, and I am very sorry to see the unfortunate sinking of the Langley.In particular, I'd be glad to know how far you've come in planning an attack from China or the Aleutian Islands?We also expect American bombers stationed in northeastern India to strike heavily at enemy bases in Siam and Indochina.

5. You will learn what happens to the troops we wish to muster for the Caspian front on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, and how they are withdrawn almost entirely to India and Australia, and you will immediately understand where we stand if the Russian defense of the Caucasus fails How difficult it will be.If you could provide New Zealand with the aid of an American division without having to bring back the New Zealand division in Palestine, that would certainly be a major support.The same action could apply to the last Australian division in the Middle East.When Australia and New Zealand are reinforced by the United States because their best troops are far away, it will save ships and ensure safety by not sending these troops back from the Middle East. Urgently requested.I have prepared to allow the implementation of Operation Magnet to be delayed for a longer period in order to allow you to increase your assistance to Oceania.Finally, it seems of the utmost importance that the major American naval forces should increase the protection of the Australia and New Zealand regions, since only in this way will the legitimate urgency of the government there be satisfied, and an important base for our counter-offensive secured. 6. Everything is centered on the ship.I have sent you a separate telegram stating the import plan of Great Britain for 1942.This plan certainly calls for the allocation of an enormous amount of US newbuilding tonnage in the third and fourth quarters. At present, however, the decisive matter is the tonnage of the army to be carried.Our present reported total of 280,000 people has been transported, but at least half of that tonnage returns empty, without troops, after an extremely long voyage. You have a carrying force of 90,000 men, but I am extremely surprised that the United States has been announced to be able to carry only another 90,000 men by the summer of 1943.If this situation cannot be corrected, it will be impossible for us to recover the decline before 1944, and there will be endless dangers as the war drags on for so long.An order now would surely double or triple American tonnage by the summer of 1943.We can do nothing beyond the number of 280,000 people, especially since the loss of ships of this class has been very great recently.I would be most grateful if you could relieve me of my worries in this regard.I fully agree with you as to the need for the sportsman's plan of operations, but the setbacks at Auchinleck and the extreme strain of the ship will inevitably delay this plan for a long time. 7. Our monthly transport fleet transports 40,000 to 50,000 people to the East each time. The need to maintain the Army and to strengthen the air and anti-aircraft artillery units in the Indian theater will currently prevent our March, April and May convoys from carrying more than three divisions, and the arrival of these convoys will be delayed by two months each. months. It seems to me that all these troops may be necessary for the defense of India, and that I cannot make any other preparations than that which I have mentioned in Section V concerning the trans-Caspian front, and that all It's all decided. 8. Allow me to mention the subject I raised with you when we met.Japan is spreading her forces over a large number of vulnerable points, and is attempting to link them together under the protection of naval and air forces.This growing dispersion of the enemy has, so far as we know, caused anxiety in Tokyo.Nothing can be done on a large scale except after a long preparation of technical and tactical facilities.When you told me you were going to organize a large-scale commando force on the California coast, I felt you hit the nail on the head.Once a few elite troops are ready, any one of them can attack a certain base or island occupied by Japan and deal a devastating blow to the defenders, so that all their islands become something that can be lost at any time.Even in this year, 1942, some powerful examples can be made, causing confusion on the Japanese side, and more manpower and material resources have to be allocated to strengthen other strongholds. 9. But, as a matter of fact, if plans are now being made to begin preparing ships, landing craft, aircraft, expeditionary divisions, etc., along the California coast for a serious attack on Japan in 1943; this is what we should follow correct policy. Moreover, the strength of the United States has reached such a degree that this Western combat force can be deployed entirely on your Pacific coast without hindering the transatlantic plan we have talked about to strike Hitler.For a long time to come, your difficulty seems to be to put your army into battle, and to put your army into battle, the lack of ships is the fatal difficulty. On the 8th I received a comprehensive reply from the President, apparently the result of a long study by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.He said: Since receiving your call on March 4, we have been meeting and studying continuously.We are fully aware of the magnitude of the problems you face in the Indian Ocean, which we care about as much as our own in the Pacific, especially as we assume responsibility for the defense of Australia and New Zealand.He pointed out that the United States has deployed most of its Pacific Fleet in the Australia-New Zealand region, as well as in the United States, Britain, the Netherlands, and Australia.Japan is flexibly deploying its forces and expanding its forces outward.Japan's attack potential is still very strong, therefore, the current situation in the Pacific is serious.Loaning transport ships to Britain for further transfers of troops to India would greatly reduce the likelihood of an American offensive elsewhere.Although, if the two divisions of Australia and New Zealand are left in the Middle East by their governments and can be transferred to India at any time, the United States is prepared to send two more divisions in addition to the two divisions already ordered to Australia and New Caledonia One division will go to Australia and the other to New Zealand. In this way, the total number of US troops in Oceania will be as many as 90,000.However, this will temporarily reduce the number of ships carrying Lend-Lease supplies to China through the Red Sea.Everything will depend on the two Anzac divisions remaining in the Middle East.Beyond that, there's no longer a way to get the most out of a ship. In addition, the President agreed to the main request that I suggested.He will supply ships to carry two divisions of our army and equipment from England across the Cape of Good Hope.The first convoy started around April 26, and the rest around May 6.There are important conditions attached to this request, and we shall later see how beneficial it is to be on the lookout!The President said: The supply of these ships is contingent upon acceptance of the following conditions during their use: (1) The sports plan (intervention in French North Africa) shall not be carried out. (2) U.S. troops transferred to the British Isles will be limited to what these ships can bring out of the United States. (3) Direct transfers to Iceland cannot be performed. (4) During the months of April and May, eleven cargo ships had to be drawn from the Burma to Red Sea voyage.These ships were engaged in transporting Lend-Lease supplies to China and the Middle East. (5) The US mission to attack Germany from the air in 1942 should be slightly reduced; the US ground combat mission to the European continent in 1942 should be greatly reduced.The most important thing is that the ships of the two British divisions transported by the United States should be returned immediately after completing their tasks. I am extremely satisfied with all of this.One of my dominant thoughts has always been that, for the main purpose, it is important to leave as much room as possible, especially in times of war.The President's loan to me of additional transport vessels to enable me to transport several divisions across the Cape of Good Hope again is an illustration of this principle. The President and his advisers put up some numbers on our joint force-carrying capabilities.These figures should be kept in mind as we continue the narrative.According to him, the present shipbuilding program seems to have reached the maximum possible, and no further increase is possible before June 1944. The troop carriers we are building now will be able to transport 225,250 people.It is understood that the UK has no plans to increase the total number of troop carriers.The total number of troops that can now be transported by US-flagged ships is about 130,000. During 1942 it was estimated that at least 35,000 people could be transported due to the increased number of reconstructions.By June 1943, new ships would be able to carry an additional 40,000 people; By December 1943, another 100,000 people can be added; by June 1944, an additional 95,000 people can be added.Thus, excluding loss figures, the total troop load on American ships by June 1944 would have amounted to 400,000 people. The above situation determines the strategic direction of the United Kingdom and the United States. Then it explained in detail the provisional deployment of the entire U.S. Air Force by the end of 1942. The President added that if there were to be a simultaneous offensive against German military strength and resources in 1942, it would be necessary to have this force in the United Kingdom to the greatest extent possible.This force includes forces previously prepared for the Sportsman and Magnet combat programs. He concluded by writing: By thus personally confiding to you all the details of our military dispositions, I do not mean that your closest advisers cannot know them.However, I beg you to strictly limit further dissemination. On Sunday, I will send you a personal proposal on the simplification of theater responsibilities. This may be a critical time, but it should always be remembered that it is no worse than the days in which you have passed in peace. I fully agree with these views and reply as follows: former navy personnel to president roosevelt March 9, 1942 A prompt and generous reply to my suggestions is greatly appreciated.Our staff is deliberating the new situation and will send a telegram shortly. At this point the President sent an additional personal telegram, raising complex issues of command and responsibility; however, these issues were finally satisfactorily resolved.He said: The telegram I sent you on Saturday night was in agreement with the general opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as you can no doubt see from its contents.I am sending you this purely private telegram in the hope that you will understand how my ideas are formed.He went on to write: Since we met in January, most of the excellent deployments that have been made in the Southwest Pacific region during that period have become obsolete. Therefore, I would like you to consider the following simplifications of military operations: 1. Responsibility for all operations in the Pacific region rests with the United States.All decisions for naval, land, and air operations in the area shall be made by the Chiefs of Staff of the United States Armed Forces in Washington, and an advisory committee on operational issues will be established in Washington, with members from Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands East Indies, and China. chaired by an American.Canada may also participate.Now the Pacific War Committee in London might as well be relocated here; although as far as political matters you might think it would be best if the Pacific War Committee were in London, anyway, the operational part of the Committee's duties, including supplies , should work here.The Supreme Commander in the Pacific should be an American.The local operational command on the Australian mainland was headed by an Australian.The local operational command in New Zealand will be headed by a New Zealander.Operations in mainland China will be commanded by the Generalissimo.Should a future offensive retake the Dutch East Indies from the Japanese, operational command of the area should be given to a Dutchman. Under such an arrangement, decisions about direct strategic military action should be made by Washington and a top US commander in the Pacific under the supervision of the US chief of staff.The method of resuming the offensive will be determined in a similar manner.This would include, for example, an attack northwest from major bases in the south, and an attack on the Japanese mainland from bases in China, or the Aleutian Islands, or Siberia.Our side will assume clear responsibilities, so that Britain will be relieved of other tasks in this area, except to supplement our strength as much as possible materially. 2. The central region, extending from Singapore to areas including India and the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, Libya, and the Mediterranean region will be directly under the responsibility of the United Kingdom.All questions of military action within this area are for your decision; however, it should always be understood that, as Australia and New Zealand will render substantial assistance to India and the Near East, matters should be agreed as far as possible with the governments of these two countries.We will continue to commit all possible arms and ships to this operation. Needless to say, this is premised on temporarily putting aside the sportsman's battle plan. There is also an extremely important third aspect. I am increasingly interested in opening a new front on the Continent this summer; Naturally, this refers to air strikes and assaults.From the state of ships and supplies, our participation is extremely easy, as the maximum distance is about three thousand miles.Though the losses will no doubt be great, they will at least be replaced by German losses and will be compensated by compelling Germany to withdraw a large number of troops of all kinds from the Russian front. Also, under this plan, the Icelandic and Magnet operations (transporting U.S. troops to Northern Ireland) would become secondary since the offensive against the enemy would be carried out on the European mainland. This is of course an attempt to send all possible aid to Russia. The ship problem at once became the fatal difficulty and the only basis of our strategy. With Japan entering the war, the effective strength of the British and American militaries depended almost entirely on newbuildings to replenish those we had lost.In the first six months of 1942, as many British and Allied ships were sunk as in all of 1941, and by some three million tons more than the Allied shipbuilding program.At the same time, the requirements of the US Army and Navy have also increased significantly, but by March, the US shipbuilding plan for the next year had increased to 12 million tons.In May 1942, the United States made up for current losses with new ships.For the Allies as a whole, this goal was not reached until the end of August.It took another year before we could make up for all the early losses.Despite America's growing burden, we keep nearly three million tons of American cargo and tankers in our ranks.Even with this generous decision on the part of the United States, it could not make up for the increasing losses of the British naval merchant fleet. As events progress, one will see how new possibilities are revealed; how new tasks are imposed on the two powerful naval powers of the English-speaking world, and how these tasks are unpredictable. implemented.The whole picture was about to be brightened by America's first naval victory over Japan in the Pacific, and all shipping problems were finally solved by the astonishing numbers of American merchant ships built.The close cooperation between us during these anxious days can be seen in the following correspondence between me and the President. dear winston March 18, 1942 I am sure you know that I have thought a lot about your difficult situation during the past month.It is well for us to admit the difficult question on the military side; but there is an additional trouble on your part, your delightful unwritten constitution, which makes your form of government exactly the same in time of war as it is in time of peace.To be honest, the written constitution of the United States saves the unfortunate people in high positions a lot of headaches because of the four-year term system. Second, there is that beloved icon we all adore, the freedom of the press.None of us were tortured by those news stories, and the news stories, on the whole, weren't too bad.But, in fact, both of us were threatened by so-called explanatory comments from a handful of gentlemen.At this time of crisis, they still cannot get rid of the so-called politics in their minds. They have neither background material nor knowledge, and they still try to guide public opinion on this basis. My own paper, the worst of all papers, keeps exaggerating on trivial matters at home, and subtly suggesting that America's business is only to defend Hawaii; Just waiting for someone to hit our own shores.What a surreal remnant of these isolationists, they didn't attack me personally, they just babbled that I was overburdened, or that I was my own strategist and didn't take advice from the Navy or the Army conduct military action.These are clichés you've already heard. Here's my amateur strategist's take.It is useless to think about the issue of Singapore and the Dutch East Indies.They are already lost.Australia must hold, and as my telegram to you indicates, we are both willing to take on that responsibility.India must hold, you must hold; but, to be honest, I am not as worried about it as some others.The Japanese probably landed on the western coast of Burma.They may bomb Calcutta.But I can't conceive that with the forces they can muster, they can go any farther than to push in a few places on the frontier. But I think you can hold Ceylon.I wish you would send more subs out there, they are more valuable than a lesser surface fleet.I hope that your reinforcements to the Near East will indeed be somewhat greater than at present.You must hold Egypt, the Canal, Syria, Iran and the road to the Caucasus. Finally, I expect to send you within a few days a more definite plan for a joint attack on the European mainland. When you receive this letter, you will be notified of my meeting with Litvinov; I look forward to a reply from Stalin shortly.I know you don't mind when I tell you, with the utmost bluntness and frankness, that I personally can handle Stalin better than your Foreign Office and my State Department.Stalin hated all your senior staff.He thought he liked me better, and I hope he always does. Our navy has indeed been slow to prepare for this submarine warfare off our coastline.I don't need to tell you that many naval officers used to have no interest in anything less than two thousand tons.You learned your lesson two years ago.And now we have to learn the lesson.I anticipate an excellent coast patrol by May 1st; patrolling the sea from Newfoundland to Florida and to the West Indies.I had begged, borrowed, stolen, etc., assembled various ships over eighty feet in length, and established a separate command, under the command of Admiral Andrews. I know that you will continue to maintain your optimism and high energy, and I also know that you will not mind if I tell you that you should learn from me; every month I go to Hyde Park four days, so , I kind of got into a hole and sealed it up, and I didn't answer the phone unless something really big happened.I hope you give it a try, and I hope you lay a few bricks or paint another picture. Please convey my warm regards to Mrs Churchill.My wife and I are very much looking forward to seeing her. your forever Franklin Roosevelt. P.S. Winant is here.I think he is indeed a most sensible man. I replied with the same tone. former navy personnel to president roosevelt April 1, 1942 1. I am very pleased to have just received your letter of March 18.I am very grateful for the attention you have shown me personally and personally.We've been pretty quiet here, but naturally there's nothing for the restless people in the House and the press to do but find fault with all the work people do.I think it's hard to forget Singapore and hopefully we'll get it back soon. 2. Dickie Mountbatten's performance in Saint-Nazaire, despite its small scale, was extremely exciting.As your personal eyes and ears, a few weeks ago I made him Vice Admiral, Lieutenant General, and Air Force Vice Admiral and made him Commander of Joint Operations on the Chiefs of Staff Committee.He is on an equal footing, taking part in discussions concerning his own affairs or in overall command of the war.He will also be central in the joint attack on Europe that you mentioned.I'm looking forward to your plans.We are seriously planning and preparing here. 3. Speaking from one amateur strategist to another, I feel that the smartest Japanese offensive is to push north in Burma, through northern Burma into China, and try to destroy it.They may harass India, but I don't believe it will be in a big way.We send 40,000 to 50,000 people to the East every month.After they rounded the Cape of Good Hope, they could go to Suez, Basra, Mumbai, Ceylon, or Australia respectively.I have told Curtin that if he is seriously attacked I mean six to eight divisions of enemy troops the British will certainly come to his aid.Naturally this assistance came at the expense of pressing needs in other theaters.I hope that you will continue to give Australia all possible assistance so that I can successfully defend Egypt, the Levant and India. Those defenses will be a tall order. 4. We can no longer send any submarines from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, although there are only two British submarines and four Dutch submarines there.However, we are currently relatively strong in Ceylon, with well-armed garrisons, Tornado fighters, some torpedo bombers and radars, and strong anti-aircraft fire.The strength of Admiral Somerville's fleet has been greatly increased, and when a battle arises he may have a chance of victory.At this time the Ironclad Operations Plan (Madagascar) was underway.This plan has a lot to do with Dickie.All in all, I hope that the situation in the Indian Ocean will turn around soon and deprive the Japanese of any chance of winning there. 5. It seems important to appease the Japanese about their extensive conquest and prevent them from mustering forces for a larger expedition.I'd be very glad to know how your plans for the California Raiders go?I got hints that Donovan was training them. 6. Everything now depends on a large-scale Russo-German war.It appears that a major German offensive will not begin before mid-May or early June.We are doing everything in our power to assist Russia and relieve their pressure.We must try to make each convoy reach Murmansk, and Stalin is satisfied with our deliveries.After June, 50 per cent of the supplies due would be delivered, a task that would be very difficult due to the lack of ships and the new campaign to be waged.Only bad weather will prevent us from continuing to bombard Germany heavily.Our new bombing method has been extremely successful.Essen, Cologne, and especially Lübeck were bombed on the same scale as Coventry.When Hitler was fighting the bear and went to bomb his rear, I was convinced that it was extremely important to continue this throughout the summer.Anything you can send that increases our attack power is extremely valuable.In Malta, we also pinned down 600 or 700 German and Italian aircraft after heavy fighting.I am not yet sure when they will be transferred to the southern Russian front in the near future.Rumors abound, however, that Malta may be attacked by airborne forces within the month. 7. According to Stalin, who anticipated that Germany would use poison gas against him, I have assured him that we will treat this atrocity as if it were our own, with unlimited vengeance.This thing is easy for us.According to his wishes, I propose to publish it before the end of this month, and use this interval to complete our preventive measures.Do not tell others what has been said above. Personally, my health is very good, although after my return I feel the pressure of the war more than before.I join my wife in sending you and Mrs. Roosevelt our best wishes.When the weather gets better, maybe I'll fly in and spend a weekend with you.We have a lot to settle, it is better to talk.