Department of State
                                           
                                
                         THE SECRETARY
                                
                                              December 22, 1941
                                
                  MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
 
          Referring further to your personal inquiry of me at cabinet as to
          whether I considered legal and valid that provision of the Supreme
          War Council draft to the effect that the President can pledge himself
          as a member of the War Council "not to cease hostilities against
          or conclude a separate armistice with the common enemies or any
          of them, except by common agreement", I herewith enclose opinion
          by Mr. Hackworth prepared at my request which, in my judgment,
          makes clear the legal and constitutional validity of this provision.
          I hope you may have a chance to glance over it.