June 17, 1942.
 
Dear Gil:-
 
               I have not had a chance in the past week 
to thank you for yours of June third.  Molotov's 
visit here was a real success and he actually got 
chummy toward the end. You certainly managed to
work out that British-Russian Treaty in thoroughly
acceptable form, and I think Molotov understood, 
after being here a few days, that if he had 
pressed the original it would have caused almost 
irreparable damage to the ideals of the war.
 
          The Second Front is still a thorny problem 
to crack, but I am pushing for some 
more definite action,
 
     I have had two or three good talks 
with Lyttelton-- and I like him much. I think 
he agrees with me that the situation in Lybia 
is by no means rosy. I would be satisfied with 
a drawn battle at this time.
 
     In case of a certain visit, I am 
telegraphing to Winston expressing the hope 
that Portal will come with him.
 
     I think you are right in not joining
the Pacific Council in London. I have an idea 
that that Council is at this time a fifth wheel. 
My own Pacific Council serves prinarlly to 
disseminate information as to the progress of