London, June 3rd, 1942. Dear Mr. President, Since I saw you in Washington, I have been spending most of my time working on two problems: one: the Russian Treaty, and, two: the Second Front. There have been other collateral problems, but I have thought they were of secondary importance; and there is the usual routine work of the Embassy. I believe that before the Russians reached England, I had convinced the key men here of your very real opposition to a Frontier Treaty. Both the Prime Minister and Eden did their best to per- suade Molotoff of that fact, but I think you should also know that it was not until I had talked with Molotoff and personally stated to him your objections, that he abandoned his position on frontiers and agreed to recommend to Stalin the draft Treaty which I had worked on with Eden, and which, with minor changes suggested by the Russians, was accepted and signed. Due to General Marshall's and Harry's mission here, there was a lively interest in the Second Front by responsible people when I first returned. There was also a popular demand for action, to aid Russia. Although orderly Planning for invasion has continued, I have felt that there has been a dropping off of sustained interest by ranking people, so far as 1942 is concerned. The public, at the same time, has appeared to resent an effort on the part of some politicians to criticise the Administration, while identifying themselves with the Second Front movement. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, The White House, Washington, D. C.. |