THE WHITE HOUSE
                                     WASHINGTON
                             z
 
                                        August 23, 1941.
 
MEMORANDUM OF TRIP TO MEET WINSTON CHURCHILL, AUGUST, 1941.
(THESE NOTES ARE DICTATED FOR HISTORICAL PURPOSES AND FOR
POSSIBLE USE IN PREPARING A MAGAZINE ARTICLE)
 
             When Harry Hopkins went to England the first time in January, 1941, I told him to
express my hope to Churchill that we could meet some day to "ta!k over the problem of the defeat
of Germany. Before ,Hopkins could deliver the message, Churchill expressed exactly the same
thought to Hopkins    Thus it may be truthfully said that the meeting was suggested by both
Churchill and me.
 
             The date mentioned at that time was March or April, and the places mentioned were
Bermuda or Newfoundland. I found it impossible, on account of legislation, to get away from
Washington until April, and by that time the war in Greece -- and later the war in Crete
-prevented Churchill from leaving.
 
The trip was mentioned again in May and June and early July, and was finally decided upon about
July fifteenth. Bermuda was decided against on account of the long and rather dangerous
re-planing hop from there to England in case Churchill. had to hurry back. The neighborhood of
Newfoundland was decided on. The date of the actual rendezvous was set for August eighth,
ninth or tenth.
 
        About July twenty-seventh, the British Admiralty sent us a secret recommendation that Loon
Bay, on the north coast of Newfoundland, be chosen, raising certain objections to Placentia Bay,
on the south coast, and another Bay west of it on the south coast. My Naval advisors and I told
the British Admiralty we much preferred Argentia Harbor off Placentia Bay, especially as that was
the new Base recently placed in cone, mission by the Navy and already fitted with radio and
manned by a number of planes, mine sweepers, etc. The British Admiralty acceded to this choice.