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Still working on 1943

Bomber Harris says he can win the war
Tuesday, December 7, 1943 www.onwar.com

[British Lancaster bomber being loaded for a mission] In London ... The Air Marshal Harris, commander in chief of RAF Bomber Command, tells his superiors that he believes he can win the war if he is supported in his continuing attacks on Berlin and other targets so that he can send off 15,000 Lancaster missions in the next few months. (In fact, Harris will be able to send 14,500 missions despite arguments about the effectiveness of the bombing.)

In Italy... The US 5th Army secures the Mignano gap and expands its offensive. The US 2nd and 6th Corps attack Monte Sammucro and San Pietro. There is determined German resistance. To the east, the British 8th Army attacks Orsogna.
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136 Communique on a Meeting with Churchill and the President of Turkey
December 7, 1943

MR. ROOSEVELT, President of the United States of America, M. Ismet Inonu, President of the Turkish Republic, and Mr. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, met in Cairo on December 4, 5, and 6, 1943.

Mr. Anthony Eden, His Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, M. Numan Menemencioglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, and Mr. Harry Hopkins took part in their deliberations.

Participation in this conference of the head of the Turkish state, in response to the cordial invitation addressed to him by the United States, British, and Soviet Governments, bears striking testimony to the strength of the alliance which unites Great Britain and Turkey, and to the firm friendship existing between the Turkish people and the United States of America and the Soviet Union.

Presidents Roosevelt and Inonu and Prime Minister Churchill reviewed the general political situation and examined at length the policy to be followed, taking into account the joint and several interests of the three countries.

The study of all problems in a spirit of understanding and loyalty showed that the closest unity existed between the United States of America, Turkey, and Great Britain in their attitude to the world situation.

The conversations in Cairo have consequently been most useful and most fruitful for future relations between the four countries concerned.

The identity of interests and of views of the great American and British democracies with those of the Soviet Union, as also the traditional relations of friendship existing between these powers and Turkey, have been reaffirmed throughout the proceedings of the Cairo Conference.
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37 Remarks at Malta
December 8, 1943

Lord Gort, officers and men, good people of Malta:

Nearly a year ago the Prime Minister and I were in Casablanca ?shortly after the landings by British and American troops in North Africa?and at that time I told the Prime Minister some day we would control once more the whole of the Mediterranean and that I would go to Malta.

For many months I have wanted on behalf of the American people to pay some little tribute to this island and to all of its people- civil and military- who during these years have contributed so much to democracy, not just here but all over the civilized world. And so, at last I have been able to come. At last I have been able to see something of your historic land. I wish I could stay but I have many things to do. May I tell you though that during these past three weeks the Prime Minister and I feel that we two have struck strong blows for the future of the human race.

And so, in this simple way, I am taking the opportunity to do what all the American people would like to join me in doing. I have here a little token- a scroll- a citation- from the President of the United States, speaking in behalf of all the people of the United States. And may I read it to you:

"In the name of the people of the United States of America, I salute the Island of Malta, its people and defenders, who, in the cause of freedom and justice and decency throughout the world, have rendered valorous service far above and beyond the call of duty.

"Under repeated fire from the skies, Malta stood alone, but unafraid in the center of the sea, one tiny bright flame in the darkness?a beacon of hope for the clearer days which have come.

"Malta's bright story of human fortitude and courage will be read by posterity with wonder and with gratitude through all the ages.

"What was done in this Island maintains the highest traditions of gallant men and women who from the beginning of time have lived and died to preserve civilization for all mankind.
"Dated December 7, 1943.

Signed FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT."

I have signed it at the bottom and I wrote on it not today but yesterday, December 7, because that was the second anniversary of the entry into the war of the American people. We will proceed until that war is won and more than that, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with the British Empire and our other allies in making it a victory worth while.

I was flipping through the magazines at Wal-Mart and ran across the special LIFE magazine "100 most important photographs" edition. It had photos of Pearl Harbor, but it interestingly also had photos of dead Marines in the surf taken somewhere in the South Pacific in 1943. The caption said something to the effect that photos of dead Americans had been banned but that in 1943 Roosevelt thought Americans were becoming too complacent with the war and he authorized the publication of those to remind Americans what the fighting was all about. Very timely with what we are going through this week. It will be interesting to see how the press covers it on Thursday.