Roosevelt Papers: Telegram
Prime Minister Churchill to President Roosevelt 1
No. 881. Prime Minister to President. Personal and Top Secret.
1. Please see paragraph one of my Nr. 880. In spite of your [Page 32] Nr. 692,2 our Staffs consider it of the highest importance that they meet with yours before we go on to Argonaut . I understand that your Chiefs of Staff are flying separately from you. Why then can they not reach Malta say on January 30th and meet our people there? We think this very important, and we do not see how the agenda can be covered unless there is this preliminary talk. I beg you to consider this. I shall only arrive in time to welcome you on February 2nd.
2. We cannot tell what the flying will be from Malta onward and you may easily have to wait an extra day in Malta. However if our staffs have covered some of the ground, we can spend this day discussing with them. Uncle Joe may if the weather is bad have to put up with a delay. But he may comfort himself with the reflection that he has made us come to him, which in all the circumstances we are wise to do.