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THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
(SENT AS OPNAV'S 11ØØ3Ø CR Ø665)
PERSONAL AND SECRET (marked through)
DECEMBER 1Ø, 1941
FOR FORMER NAVAL PERSON FROM THE PRESIDENT
- DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU HERE AT WHITE HOUSE. IMPOSSIBLE FOR
ME TO LEAVE COUNTY DURING INTENSIVE MOBILIZATION AND CLARIFICATION NAVAL ACTION IN PACIFIC.
- I KNOW YOU WILL BEAR IN MIND THAT THE PRODUCTION AND
ALLOCATION PROBLEMS CAN AND WILL BE WORKED OUT WITH COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING AND ACCORD. WE SHALL HAVE TO USE ALLOTTED PLANES FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS BUT HOPE TO RESUME SCHEDULE OF SHIPMENTS TO YOU AND RUSSIA BY JANUARY FIRST. PRACTICALLY ALL OTHER LEND LEASE ARTICLES ARE CONTINUING TO BE SHIPPED. DETAILS OF PRODUCTION AND ALLOCATION CAN BE HANDLED AT LONG RANGE.
- NAVAL SITUATION IS GREAT PERSON RISK TO YOU--- BELIVE
THIS SHOULD BE GIVEN MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION FOR THE EMPIRE NEEDS YOU AT THE HELM AND WE NEED YOU THERE TOO.
- THE NEWS IS BAD BUT IT WILL BE BETTER.
WARM REGARDS
- ROOSEVELT
