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PRIME MINISTER’S
PERSONAL TELEGRAM
SERIAL No 526
COPY
PRIME MINISTER TO MR. HOPKINS.
PERSONAL SECRET AND PRIVATE
The Cabinet and other important groups are very unhappy about President Roosevelt’s many comments about not joining the war. Parliament will be unhappy too. It’ll be very dangerous if Russia is defeated and Britain is left to fight alone again next year. Hitler will be a great threat. Tonight he’s got 30 U-boats (submarines) blocking the whole of the Atlantic. We’ve lost 25,000 tons of ships yesterday (27th) and today (28th) but he’s keeping clear of the Arctic Sea. You’re the best person to know if you can do anything more to help us. I’d be grateful if you could give me any sort of hope. Persia (Iran) was ok. Kindest regards.
(Initialled) W.S.C.
28 August 1941
PRIME MINISTER’S
PERSONAL TELEGRAM
SERIAL No T526
COPY
PRIME MINISTER TO MR. HOPKINS.
PERSONAL SECRET AND PRIVATE
I ought to tell you that there has been a wave of depression through Cabinet and other informed circles here about President’s many assurances about no commitments and no closer[ ]to war etc. I fear this will be reflected in Parliament. If 1942 opens with Russia knocked out and Britain left again alone, all kinds of dangers may arise. I do not think Hitler will help in any way. Tonight he has 30 U-boats in line from the eastern part of Iceland to northern tip of Ireland. We have lost 25,000 tons yesterday (27th) and today (28th) but he keeps clear of 26th meridian. You will know best whether anything more can be done. Should be grateful if you could give me any sort of hope. Persia was ok. Kindest regards.
(Initialled) W.S.C.
28.viii.
This is a copy of a telegram Churchill sent to President Roosevelt’s personal representative, Harry Hopkins, in August 1941.
Churchill and Roosevelt had agreed a joint statement called ‘The Atlantic Charter’ (Source 5) three weeks earlier and Churchill hoped that this would lead to America ending its policy of neutrality and joining in the war to fight with Britain. He was increasingly worried when no change in policy was announced and expressed his despair very openly to Hopkins. Harry Hopkins, Special Advisor and Assistant to President Roosevelt, was Roosevelt’s ‘right-hand man’ – his ‘Mr Fixit’.
The situation in Europe in 1941 saw Germany in control of much of the continent and it was now advancing rapidly into Russia, having declared war on the Soviet Union on 22 June. Both Britain and the US were concerned that the USSR would be defeated quickly and leave Britain to fight alone again. Britain was also concerned about the growing threat from Japan in the Far East and hoped that the US would soon end its policy of remaining neutral in the war. However Roosevelt still faced opposition in Congress and amongst the American public to declaring war.
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? | |
Churchill believes Russia would soon be defeated. | ||
Churchill is very worried that German U-boats would make Britain lose the war. | ||
Churchill felt that Roosevelt wasn’t doing enough to help Britain. | ||
The links between Britain and the US depended on the relationship between individuals rather than the countries. |
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