BRITISH EMBASSY,
 
      WASHINGTON, D.C.
 
      March 11th, 1941                                             
                    
 
      
 
 
Dear Mr. President,
 
      
 
 
I lost no time in % passing on to London the message which you 
      gave me on Friday night saying that the United States Government 
      would be able to accept His Majesty's Ships "Illustrious", 
      "Furious" and "Liverpool" for repair in this 
      country.
 
      
 
 
I have now had a telegram from London asking me to convey 
      to you the most cordial thanks of His Majesty's Government for 
      the very helpful attitude taken by the United States Government 
      in this matter. At the same time the Foreign Office point out 
      that for obvious reasons which I know you will appreciate, it 
      is very important that nothing should be said about these arrangements 
      until the different ships actually reach this
 
      country./
 
      
 
 
The Honourable
 
      Franklin D. Roosevelt,
 
      President of the United States of America,
 
      Washington, D. C.