Defense Files: Telegram
The Secretary of War (Stimson) to the Chief of Staff of the Army (Marshall)1
security control
Have just returned from a weeks absence and learned of the problem which has arisen concerning the location of future conference owing to leaks in censorship. Unless irrevocable decision of this problem has made it obsolete please give the President this message:2 [Page 100]
“After careful consideration of the publicity which has occurred and the possible dangers involved, I sum up the situation as follows: if I were an Air Force Commander having control of between 90 and 100 JU88 bombers and had received the press reports as to a specifically described target of unique importance within easy range of my advanced airports, (such reports being probably confirmed by knowledge of ship movements) I should stake every plane on the chance of winning such a prize. Under such circumstances I believe that elementary prudence dictates a change of location. While not responsible for my method of expression both Hull and Knox concur in this conclusion.”