AUGUST 6, 1941
 
MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT,
 
            AMBASSADOR WINANT STATES THAT HE WAS INFORMED BY ANTHONY
EDEN THIS AFTERNOON THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME LEAKAGE OR ELSE SOME
VERY CLEVER GUESS WORK CONCERNING THE PRIME MINISTER'S MOVEMENTS.
AT 2015 YESTERDAY, THE GERMAN RADIO, QUOTING A REPORT FROM LISBON,
GAVE THE FIRST BREAK. LONDON REPORTERS, PUTTING TWO AND TWO
TOGETHER, HAVE  ARRIVED AT THE SAME CONCLUSION.
     BEFORE WINSTON CHURCHILL LEFT, HE PREPARED A STATEMENT WHICH
1S TO BE  MADE PUBLIC ONLY IN CASE OF A LEAK. EDEN IS OF THE OPINION
THAT S0ME SORT OF STATEMENT MAY HAVE TO BE GIVEN OUT TOMORROW BUT
HE DOES NOT WANT TO SAY ANYTHING WITHOUT OUR PRIOR APPROVAL. THE
GOVERNMENT HOPES TO AVOID THE NECESSITY OF MAKING A STATEMENT BUT,
IF IT MUST BE D0NE, EDEN THINKS IT BEST TO MAKE IT TO THE HOUSE OF
COMMONS TOMORROW. THE ABSENCE OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND ATLEE
WILL CERTAINLY BE NOTICED IN THE HOUSE TOMORROW AND WILL GIVE RISE
TO QUESTIONS - THIS WOULD FURNISH THE OCCASION FOR MAKING THE
STATMENT.
     CHURCHI LL'S OWN DRAFT OF STATEMENT 1S AS  FOLLOWS:
     "THE  PRIME  MINISTER ACCEPTED AN INVITATION TO MEET PRESIDENT
ROOSEVELT FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE GENERAL COURSE OF THE WAR, THE
METHODS OF US AID TO BRITIAN AND MATTERS OF COMMON INTEREST. THE
PRIME MINISTER 1S ACCOMPANIED BY THE FIRST SEA