What kind of a People do they think we are? - Winston Churchill

There was a discussion on strategy to block theanticipated military moves of Hitler andMussolini. Those present felt that the combinedAmerican and British staffs had the brain-power to outwitany similar round-table effort by the Axis dictators,though a round-table was scarcely the type of structureHitler was likely to employ with Rome and Tokyo.The stature of Roosevelt and Churchill was manifestin the interest they took in details of the Sunday churchparade to be held aboard Prince of Wales. Breaking for aspell in Roosevelt's cabin, they considered hymns and thetraditional routine for a service at sea. "O God Our Helpin Ages Past," Churchill's favourite, was given pride ofplace, followed by Roosevelt's choice: "Eternal FatherStrong to Save." "Onward, Christian Soldiers" wasincluded.Sunday was bright with welcome sunshine.American and British seamen stood not in formal ranks,but mingled as they wished: they spoke the same tongueand knew survival depended on their loyalty and courage.Roosevelt and Churchill were accompanied by theirChiefs of Staff. The magnificent bay and hills resoundedwith hymn singing. Murmured prayers did not neglect tomention the oppressed peoples. It was a scene of unforgettable,heroic dignity. Soon these same Americanswould be in thick of the war, while off Singapore, Princeof Wales and most of her crew would be sent to the bottomby Japanese torpedoes.Morton and Spring, privileged onlookers on Princeof Wales, were precluded from leaping into print until thetwo leaders were securely home again. They remainedunaware that Roosevelt and Churchill were working zealouslyon a communique that would loom large in history.The Atlantic Charter was formulated at an extremely crucialperiod. Roosevelt, although committed in heart andmind to Britain's defence, had done everything he couldpolitically to assist Churchill.In the midst of the proceedings, the President andPrime Minister received tidings that the U.S. House ofRepresentatives had approved by only one vote a bill toextend the Selective Service Act (draft). Churchill, sensitivelytuned to the U.S. situation, had refused to yield totemptation by pressing Roosevelt for a declaration thatthe United States would come in on Britain's side. Theclose vote confirmed his wisdom. Yet, in effect, theCharter was more than a full-blooded affirmation of whatmust be achieved: it warned Germany, Italy and Japanthat the Americans were now in steadfast partnership withthe British. This pseudo-neutrality ended finally when theJapanese bombed Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 andHitler declared war on the United States.Churchill had to contact Deputy Prime MinisterClement Attlee in London to get governmental blessingfor the Atlantic Charter. At 1:45 a.m. London time on 12August 1941, Attlee called an emergency meeting of the |Cabinet. Two small amendments were ironed out andofficial approval communicated to Churchill.Though Roosevelt originated the idea of theAtlantic Charter, he asked Churchill to write the firstdraft. Several others were sifted through before this finalversion was promulgated:71 he President of the United States of America and thePrime Minister, Mr. Churchill, representing HisMajesty's Government in the United Kingdom, beingmet together, deem it right to make known certain commonprinciples in the national policies of their respective countrieson which they base their hopes for a better future for theworld.First, their countries seek no aggrandizement, territorialor other.Second, they desire to seek no territorial changes that donot accord with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned.Third, they respect the right of all peoples to choose theform of government under which they will live; and they wishto see sovereign rights and self-government restored to thosewho have been forcibly deprived of them.Fourth, they will endeavour, with due respect to theirexisting obligations, to further the enjoyment of all States,great or small, victor or vanquished, of access, on equal terms,to the trade and to the raw materials of the world which areneeded for their economic prosperity.Fifth, they desire to bring about the fullest collaborationbetween all nations in the economic field, with the objectof securing for all improved labour standards, economicadvancement, and social security.Sixth, after the final destruction of the Nazi tyrannythey hope to see established a peace which will afford to allnations the means of dwelling in safety within their ownboundaries, and which will afford assurance that all the menin all the lands may live out their lives in freedom from fearand want.Seventh, such a peace should enable all men to traversethe high seas and oceans without hindrance.Eighth, they believe that all the nations of the world,for realistic as well as spiritual reasons, must come to theabandonment of the use of force. Since no future peace can bemaintained if land, sea, or air armaments continue to beemployed by nations which threaten, or may threaten, aggressionoutside of their frontiers, they believe, pending the establishmentof a wider and more permanent system of generalsecurity, that the disarmament of such nations is essential.They will likewise aid and encourage all other practical measureswhich will lighten for peace-loving peoples the crushingburden of armaments.FINEST HOUR 112/22In London on September 24th, the delegates of tenAllied nations, including the Soviet Union, proclaimedallegiance to the principles of the Charter.