740.00119 European War 1939/614
President Roosevelt to the President of Chile (Aguirre Cerda)
My Dear Mr. President: I have been deeply moved by the personal message which Your Excellency sent me on September 5 and I am most appreciative of the confidence you have shown in consulting me regarding a matter of such great importance to all of us.
I share your abhorrence of the destruction of men and their works and the deterioration of the principles that have been developed by centuries of civilization. At a time when knowledge had given us the tools with which to forge peace and progress, when the abandonment of war as an instrument of national policy seemed within the range of achievement, the retrogression into violence can only cause the darkest despair. Therefore, I fully appreciate the motives that prompted your suggestion that your Government initiate steps toward a united appeal by all the Governments of the American republics to the belligerents to cease the present holocaust.
In turning over in my mind your proposal, I find myself again and again returning to the belief that it would be catastrophic for the future welfare of all of us were an appeal of this nature to be construed as a recognition of the ruthless conquests of aggression. If this belief is sound, then the timing of the presentation of a peace plea becomes all important. From all the information available to me, it is my considered view that there is little likelihood of acceptance of a peace proposal on any basis that the republics of this Hemisphere would wish to support. Accordingly, I am reluctantly forced to the conclusion that the strength and prestige of the united voice of the Americas might more usefully be held in readiness for a more propitious and opportune moment.
It has been my sincere endeavor to consider your message in the same spirit in which it was written. I want to be helpful and constructive and to this end would be very glad to lend my hearty support to a proposal modifying your original suggestion which would provide for the calling of a meeting “to discuss the preservation primarily of scientific gains of humanity throughout the Americas”.
I share, of course, your understanding that our exchange of views is to be maintained in complete confidence.
With the warmest personal regards,
Very sincerely yours,