ABSTRACT
During the last days of his stay in Washington Molotov was engaged in preparing telegrams to Stalin with a more detailed account of the talks he had conducted in Washington.
DOCUMENT 97
To Stalin: Telegram from Washington. Received in Moscow at 6.55 p.m., 4 June 1942
I consider it necessary to underline the fol lowing points of our conversations with Roosevelt:
1. The second front. Roosevelt said that preparations for the second front are under way. The invasion of Europe should be executed f rom Britain, therefore the first American troops have been sent to Ireland, and the shipment of subsequent contingents f rom the USA wi l l continue. In addit ion, it is necessary to provide for transporting the strike forces across the Channel. The transportation problem of the second front is a most difficult one. The Germans have three or four ports strongly fortified on the French coast. These ports are to be used to disembark tanks and other equipment. It cannot be done at other points because of shallow waters near the coast. The men, even for 30 divisions, can be landed at points other than the ports. Ships of three different types and sizes are being built for all these landing operations. The preparations can be completed no earlier than in 1943 and, consequently, the invasion operation can be carried out only in 1943. However he, Roosevelt, is trying to persuade the American generals to take the risk and land 6 to 10 divisions in France. It is possible that it wil l mean another Dunkirk and the loss of 100,000-120,000 men, but the sacrifices have to be made to provide help in 1942 and shatter German morale.
