Casablanca Conference

44 
Wednesday, 20 January

Lt. General Somervell arrived at Villa Dar es Saada at eight o’clock this morning to breakfast with Mr. Hopkins, and departed one hour later. Major General Spaatz called at ten o’clock to keep an appointment with the President and departed at 11:30. Mr. Robert Murphy also spent an hour at the President’s villa this morning conferring with the President and Mr. Hopkins.

At 11:35, General Marshall, Lt. General Arnold, Lt. General Somervell, and Admiral E. J. King arrived for a conference with the President, and following this conference they were photographed on the terrace with the President, together with Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Harriman. After the photographs had been taken, the aforementioned Army and Navy officers departed, about 12:30.

Shortly after 1:00 p.m. the Prime Minister, Mr. Harriman, and Mr. Murphy and Mr. Macmillan called to have lunch with the President, Mr. Hopkins, and Lt. Col. Elliot Roosevelt, and departed just before 3:00 p.m.

At 5:00 p.m., the Prime Minister returned in company with General Giraud, and the General’s Civilian Aide, M. Poniatowski, and went into conference with the President, Mr. Hopkins, and Mr. Murphy until 5:55, when they took their departure.

At 7:45, the President left Villa Dar es Saada to dine as the guest of the Prime Minister at “Mirador.” Also dining with the President and the Prime Minister this evening were:

  • General H. R. L. G. Alexander
  • Sir Charles Wilson
  • Mr. T. L. Rowan (Private Secretary to the P.M.)
  • Mr. J. M. Martin (Private Secretary to the P.M.)
  • Mr. Harry Hopkins
  • Mr. Averell Harriman
  • Lt. Colonel Elliott Roosevelt
  • Commander Thompson (Aide to the Prime Minister)
  • Captain Randolph Churchill
  • Sergeant Robert Hopkins

The President returned to his villa about 11:15 p.m. and retired shortly thereafter.