This telegram must be                          London
closely paraphrased be-                        Dated September 17, 1941
fore being communicated
to anyone. (SC)                                     Rec'd 6:45 a.m.
 
Secretary of State,
 
    Washington.
 
    TRIPLE PRIORITY.
 
    4321, September 17, ll a.m.
 
    MOST URGENT AND       FOR HOPKINS FROM HARRIMAN.
 
           We have been meeting with the British since 
arrival Monday afternoon, largely working through 
five subcommittees. Greatest obstasle so far is 
tanks due to disappointment on the part of the 
British because the number of tanks available for 
export on accoumt of the low production figures 
used by embick is so much smaller than what they had 
been led to believe from earlier information. Gen-
eral Wesson tells us that 1000 a month to be reached 
in April is not feasible on account of insufficient 
guns and armuunition.
 
          Discussion tanks is becoming acrimonious 
particularly because, as you well know, the British 
had definitely counted on the large number prior to 
January 1 as promised at cruise meeting. 
 
                                                   It would