DEPARTMENT OF STATE                     
 
                            WASHINGTON                      
 
                           May 31, 1944                     
 
                   MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT             
 
                                                            
 
 
With reference to your memorandum of April 28, transmitting 
      the original of a letter from Prime Minister Churchill concerning 
      Basic English, I enclose a draft of a preliminary reply for your 
      signature. I am also returning the Prime Minister's letter addressed 
                             to you.                        
 
      I have just received Mr. Amery's letter with a copy of the report, 
  and is having soundings taken in the Congress as you sugge
 
                                                            
 
 
As you have no doubt noted from the report, there was considerable 
      divergence of opinion in the Cabinet Committee as to the extent 
      to which Basic English, or some other form of simplified English, 
      should be pushed. I think that before we go very far we should 
      take steps to ascertain the views of competent Government specialists 
      and private linguistic experts. If you agree I will have the 
      matters looked into and make specific suggestions to you along 
                            this line.                      
 
                                                            
 
 
                             CH                             
 
                           Enclosures:                      
 
                Draft of letter to Prime Minister;          
 
                        Original letter of                  
 
                       April 20, 1944 from                  
 
      Prime Minister.