SIXTY YEARS ONTHE ATLANTIC CHARTER 1941-2001Pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> its lasting impact can be seen whenever free peoples collaborateto rescue ana skelter people victimized by tyrants or terroristsRON CYNEWULF ROBBINS<strong>Churchill</strong> appears to have left no written record <strong>of</strong>his first meeting with Roosevelt, during "WorldWar I. This has led to the inevitable conclusionthat the occasion was devoid <strong>of</strong> any echo in <strong>Churchill</strong>'scapacious memory. But for their second meeting<strong>Churchill</strong> insisted on a long and elaborate rehearsal. Hewas the producer and a leading "player."The date was 8 August 1941, three months beforethe Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The cast: the crew <strong>of</strong>HMS Prince <strong>of</strong> Wales which had taken part in the actionthat sunk the Bismarck. Now Britain's ne<strong>we</strong>st battleshipwas cleaving her way at top-speed through the unrelentingheavy seas <strong>of</strong> the Atlantic to Placentia Bay, Newfoundland,where President Roosevelt eagerly awaited theonset <strong>of</strong> discussions fateful to the outcome <strong>of</strong> the SecondWorld War.Humanity's age-old dilemma <strong>of</strong> how to beat postwar"swords into ploughsh<strong>are</strong>s" was to be confronted. Fromthe deliberations <strong>of</strong> two great statesmen would come aunique proclamation, the Atlantic Charter, dedicated tothe betterment and protection <strong>of</strong> nations and paving theway for the United Nations. Pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> its lasting impactcan be seen whenever free peoples collaborate to rescueand shelter people victimized by tyrants or terrorists.Roosevelt was astonished at the gap in <strong>Churchill</strong>'sphenomenal memory concerning their initial introduction.It had taken place in Lon<strong>do</strong>n in July 1918. <strong>Churchill</strong>was then a cabinet minister and Roosevelt had attainedthe rank <strong>of</strong> Assistant Secretary <strong>of</strong> the U.S. Navy.Boarding Prince <strong>of</strong> Wales on 4 August 1941,<strong>Churchill</strong> told aides that the trip would be his "first holiday"since becoming Prime Minister. But there was noreduction in his workload, and the crew <strong>we</strong>re delightedwith the opportunity to observe his tireless devotion toduty. At his comprehensive map room now in the ship heobserved the plotting <strong>of</strong> menacing U-boats. He shrugged<strong>of</strong>f the danger with the same disdain that marked hismany wartime voyages. The map room enabled him toMr. Robbins, <strong>of</strong> Victoria, B.C., is a retired journalist who coveredBritish Parliamentary affairs, and a FH senior editor.keep c<strong>are</strong>ful track <strong>of</strong> the changing fortunes <strong>of</strong> Britain'shardpressed forces across the globe. He toiled away at <strong>of</strong>ficialpapers and concentrated on plans for increasingRoosevelt's support: the United States was not yet at war.The warship soon ran into foul <strong>we</strong>ather. Slo<strong>we</strong>rdestroyer escorts <strong>we</strong>re dismissed to avoid lo<strong>we</strong>ring speed,which would have meant late arrival. The majority <strong>of</strong><strong>Churchill</strong>'s land-based advisers had queasy stomachs.<strong>Churchill</strong>, who revelled in the pitching and rolling, had toresort to prowling through the lo<strong>we</strong>r decks to stretch hislegs. He also relaxed now and then by playing backgammonwith Hopkins—whom he failed to beat.<strong>Churchill</strong> conducted rigorous rehearsals for the conference.Undeterred by the cold and blustery conditions,he strode firmly along the deck to coach Sir AlexanderCa<strong>do</strong>gan, the Permanent Undersecretary <strong>of</strong> the ForeignOffice, whom he had chosen to play the role <strong>of</strong> Roosevelt.Ca<strong>do</strong>gan could scarcely conceal his surprise.On the quarterdeck a guard <strong>of</strong> honour was assembledalongside the Royal Marines band. In obedience to<strong>Churchill</strong>, Ca<strong>do</strong>gan raised his hat to pretend he had justarrived. Right on cue the Marines struck up "The Star-Spangled Banner." The order, "Present Arms!" rang out.The guard <strong>of</strong> honour responded proudly. <strong>Churchill</strong> cameforward and shook hands with Ca<strong>do</strong>gan, who seemedsomewhat a<strong>we</strong>d at what was expected <strong>of</strong> him. But he wascomposed and dignified on being suitably greeted by theChiefs <strong>of</strong> Staff. The battleship's <strong>of</strong>ficers added their salute.The rehearsal was punctuated with suggestions from<strong>Churchill</strong> until he was satisfied the ceremonial would bea worthy tribute to the President <strong>of</strong> the United States.As <strong>Churchill</strong> sailed <strong>we</strong>st, struggling to outmanoeuvreHitler's Kriegsmarine, unconquered Britain was scaling<strong>do</strong>wn her traditional free<strong>do</strong>ms. Censorship had beenimposed and accepted as an essential <strong>we</strong>apon. Disciplinedsurvivors <strong>of</strong> incessant German bombing, the Britishresponded to the injunction on <strong>of</strong>ficial posters: "C<strong>are</strong>lessTalk Costs Lives." There would be no breach <strong>of</strong> securityto jeopardize <strong>Churchill</strong>'s Atlantic crossing. Butbecause the Americans <strong>we</strong>re still at peace, presidentialcontinued overleafFINEST HOUR 112/18
OK,osmv<strong>of</strong> STATE !Sail ott f O Union, . .. . strong and great IHtimamfy wtih all ite feats,Wittt all ttu> \wpe$ <strong>of</strong>r .futuref ^,Is tanrfttuf Df eaMess on^th^ fate !The Longfellow verse InM R ROOSEVELT'S MESSAGEto M B CHURCHILL.FINEST HOUR 112/19
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