May 20, 1944.                        
 
                                                            
 
 
                       Dear Winston:-                       
 
      That picture of you I particularly like. So much so that it too 
      becomes an inhabitant of my bedroom wall. I am awfully glad to 
                             have it.                       
 
                                                            
 
 
I am safely back in Washington trying to catch up and I am 
      really practically all right again though I am still having some 
      tests made on my plumbing and am keeping regular hours with much 
      allocation to sleep. The old bronchial pneumonia has completely 
      disappeared. The real triumph is that I have lost nearly ten 
      pounds in the last couple of months and now I have begun the 
                  struggle to maintain the loss.            
 
                                                            
 
 
I do not believe I can get away for over a month. Of course, 
      I am greatly disappointed that I could not be in England just 
      at this moment, but perhaps having missed the boat it will be 
      best not to make the trip until the events of the near future 
                         are more clear.                    
 
                                                            
 
 
I got awfully good reports of you from AvereI1 and Winant. 
      Remember what I told old Moran to make you do -- obey his orders. 
      Thus the Commander-in-Chief in one country orders around a mere 
             Minister of Defense in another country.        
 
                                                            
 
 
At this writing the news from Italy looks good. I hope old 
      Alec keeps up the good work.