DEPARTMENT OF STATE
          WASHINGTON
 
                              December 30, 1941
 
 
      MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
 
     You will recall that you approved recently a draft
 
Lend-Lease Agreement between the United States and Great
 
Britain, This draft Agreement was handed to the British
 
Ambassador and has been the subject of extensive conversa-
 
tions between the Department of State and Lord Halifax.
 
I am informed that Lord Halifax feels strongly that the
 
British Government should agree to sign this draft at once 
 
in its present form and that he has strongly represented
 
this point of view to the British Government.
 
     A responsible officer of the British Government 
 
informed an officer of the State Department yesterday 
 
that in his opinion it would be exceedingly helpful if 
 
you expressed an interest in this Agreement to Mr. Churchill 
 
upon his return to Washington. He added that in his
 
opinion if you suggested to Mr. Churchill that he discuss 
 
this matter with Lord Halifax the Agreement could be signed 
 
in its present form without further delay
 
 
                    CH