The President                        
 
                          July 5, 1943.                     
 
                                                            
 
 
I have never had a better opportunity to be direct and frank 
      and, as he has since Been more friendly than ever, it is obvious 
      that he accepted the sincerity of my statements even though he 
                 did not always agree with them.            
 
                                                            
 
 
He firmly believes a three-cornered meeting is in the interests 
      of the war but he admitted that his Viewpoint is colored by considerations 
      of the reaction in Great Britain. My main argument was based 
      on the long view as against the immediate - (1) the value of 
      the intimate understanding that in all probability would result 
      from a tete-a-tete, impossible with three persons, and (2) the 
      great importance of the favorable reaction of the American people 
      to it and to your participation. I explained the difference in 
      the public reaction in the United States to a personal meeting 
      of two as compared with a three cornered meeting on British soil 
      in which it would appear that he, Churchill, had been the broker 
                       in the transaction.                  
 
                                                            
 
 
There is no doubt in my mind as to his sincere desire and 
      determination to back you up in anything that you finally decide 
      to do and, although I must emphasize his disappointment if he 
      is not present, I am satisfied he would accept it in good part 
      and that it would in the long run improve rather than adversely 
      affect your relations with him.