RS
This telegram must be                        London
closely paraphrased be-
fore being communicated                     May 6, 1941
to anyone. (sc)
                                             Rec'd  4:39 p.m.
 
Secretary of State,
 
     Washington.
 
     TRIPLE PRIORITY
 
     1787, May 6, 9 p.m.
 
     PERSONAL AND FOR PRESIDENT
 
     My number 1753, May 3, midnight.
 
     In reference to the Prime Minister's message which
 
came to the chancery about 1 o'clock Sunday morning, I
 
feel you should know that I talked with the Prime Minister
 
on the telephone early Saturday afternoon, as I planned
 
to be away that night. He had just returned from Plymouth
 
which was badly battered. He seemed both sad and dis-
 
couraged. We talked about your message (Department's
 
number 1471, May 1, 9 p.m.) and I had the impression that
 
he was troubled about it. I told him it was a supporting
 
message.  He rather felt it was a message of delay. I
 
off ered to go down to see him but he told me he would not
 
answer you until after we had lunched together on Monday,
 
when we could talk over his reply. He asksd me not to
 
report in the meantime on our telephone conversation, fur-
 
their explaining that he wanted to consult with some of his
 
people.
 
     Our rule at the Embassy is to expedite the des(*)
 
                                                      Prime