HM                             
 
      This telegram must be paraphrased before being communicated to 
                           anyone (SC)                      
 
                              London                        
 
                     Dated November 26, 1941                
 
                       Recorded 12:55 a.m.                  
 
                                                            
 
 
                    Secretary of State,                     
 
                           Washington.                      
 
                         TRIPLE PRIORITY.                   
 
                    5670, November 26, 6 a.m.               
 
          FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM THE FORMER NAVAL PERSON    
 
                                                            
 
 
"Your message about Japan received tonight. Also full 
      accounts from Lord Halifax of discussions and your counter project 
      to Japan on which Foreign Secretary has sent some comments. Of 
      course, it is for you to handle this business and we certainly 
      do not want an additional war. There is only one point that disquiets 
      us. What about Chiang Kai shek? Is he not having a very thin 
      diet? Our anxiety is about China. If they collapse our joint 
      dangers would enormously increase. We are sure that the regard 
      of the United States for the Chinese cause will govern your action. 
      We feel that the Japanese are most unsure of themselves."