Dec. 14, 1941. DRAFT FROM THE PRESIDENT TO MR. STALIN: In my judgment it is of the utmost importance that immediate steps be taken to prepare the way for common action not merely for the next few weeks but also for the permanent defeat of hitlerism. I very much wish that you and I could meet to talk this over personally. But because tha is impossible at the moment I am seeking to inititate three preliminary moves which I hope will be preparatory to a more permanent joint planning. First, I am suggesting to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek that he call a conference immediately in Chungking consisting of Chinese, Soviet British, Dutch and American representatives. This group would meet not later that December seventeenth and report to their respective Governments in the greatest confidence by Saturday, December twentieth. This would give us the preliminary picture of the joint problem from the angle of Chungking. Second, I am asking the British to assemble a military-naval conference in Singapore, reporting by Saturday the twentieth principally from the operational angle in the Southern zone. Third, I would be very happy if you personally would talk with American, British and Chinese representatives in Moscow and let me have your suggestions as to the whole picture by Saturday the twentieth. Fourth, I am during this coming week covering the same ground with British Missions here and will send you the general picture from |