Potsdam Conference (TERMINAL)

Stimson-Churchill conversation, early afternoon

Present
United States United Kingdom
Mr. Stimson Prime Minister Churchill
Mr. Attlee
Lord Leathers

Stimson’s diary entry: “I returned to Potsdam and lunched with the Prime Minister, Attlee, and Lord Leathers, … We had some talk about ships – the distribution of the German merchant marine, Europe and others. We discussed the coal situation in Great Britain and the United States – supplies of both were going to be short this winter. As he walked down to the gate I told him of Harrison’s message. He had not heard from his own people about the matter. He was intensely interested and greatly cheered up, but was strongly inclined against any disclosure. I argued against this to some length.”