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Letter from President Roosevelt to Mr Churchill dated 11.9.39
My dear Churchill,
It’s because you and I had similar jobs in World War 1 that I want you to know how glad I am that you’re back again in charge of the navy, although I know there are new problems. I want you and the Prime Minister to know that I’d be happy for you to keep me informed of anything important that’s happening. You can always send sealed letters directly to me.
I’m glad you finished writing the first parts of your history book before this war started – and I’ve much enjoyed reading them.
With my sincere regards,
Faithfully yours,
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
Letter from President Roosevelt to Mr Churchill dated 11.9.39
My dear Churchill,
It is because you and I occupied similar positions in the World War that I want you to know how glad I am that you are back again in the Admiralty. Your problems are, I realise, complicated by new factors but the essential is not very different. What I want you and the Prime Minister to know is that I shall at all times welcome it if you will keep me in touch personally with anything you want me to know about. You can always send sealed letters through your pouch or my pouch.
I am glad you did the Marlboro volumes before this thing started – and I have much enjoyed reading them.
With my sincere regards,
Faithfully yours,
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
This is a personal letter from President Roosevelt of the United States to welcome Churchill after he was put in charge of the Admiralty (the Navy). Churchill had been out of office for 10 years and had been warning of the dangers posed by Hitler’s Germany and of the dangers of the policy of appeasement followed by the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain. War broke out on 1 September 1939 and Chamberlain put Churchill in charge of the Admiralty on 3 September.
During the First World War, both Churchill and Roosevelt had held similar jobs; Churchill had been in charge of the Royal Navy, as First Lord of the Admiralty, and Roosevelt had served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under US President Woodrow Wilson during the First World War.
Churchill and Roosevelt shared a common interest in the navy and had other things in common too. They both came from wealthy backgrounds with families that were well respected and politically influential. Churchill also had an American mother.
By suggesting that Churchill can send letters to him ‘by pouch’, Roosevelt is referring to using special diplomatic bags or pouches. These are protected by law and allow countries to send letters (or other items) to each other without being opened (for example, at customs).
Remember, we’re hoping that this source can be useful to us in investigating what was special about the relationship between Britain and the US in the early years of the Second World War. Sources usually help historians in two ways:
Which of the inferences below can be made from this source?
On a scale of 1-5 how far do you agree that this source supports this inference? | Which extract(s) from the source support your argument? | |
The American Government was concerned about the outbreak of war. | ||
Roosevelt and Churchill respected each other. | ||
Roosevelt trusted Churchill more than the Prime Minister. | ||
There was a special relationship between Britain and America. |
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