Office of the Historian

Truman Papers

No. 192
The Federal Loan Administrator (Snyder), the President’s Special Counsel (Rosenman), and Mr. George E. Allen to the President

[Washington,] July 6, 1945.

Memorandum for the President

The following is what we think was the consensus expressed on the boat1 on July 4th with respect to the important issues to be decided at the forthcoming conference:

(1)
The entry of Russia into the Japanese war.
(2)
The Economic stabilization of Europe.
(a)
Immediate needs: Coal (especially out of Germany itself), food, transportation and a few raw materials.
(b)
Assistance in long-range reconstruction and rehabilitation of the devastated countries.
(3)
Full participation by Great Britain in the Pacific war.
(4)
Policy toward Germany.
(a)
Demilitarization by reparations and otherwise.
(b)
Geographical dismemberment.
(c)
Reeducation.
(d)
Disbursement [Dispersement?] of German scientific personnel.
(e)
Proper public relations of United States toward the German population.
(5)
Holding the peace conference in the U. S. A.
(6)
Some military and naval bases, if possible.

In other words, we think that as a well known Missouri horse trader, the American people expect you to bring something home to them.

J[ohn] W S[nyder]
S[amuel] I R[osenman]
G[eorge] E A[llen]
  1. i. e., the Potomac, on which Truman took a cruise on July 4 with a group of aides, friends, and advisers.↩