740.0011 European War
1939/5010½
The British Ambassador (Lothian) to President Roosevelt
Washington, August 5,
1940.
Dear Mr. President: I enclose, as I
promised, a note summarising an appreciation of Hitler’s probable
future strategy sent to the Prime Minister by General Smuts.82
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I also enclose a note of the proposals about landing grounds and
naval facilities in British possessions off the East Coast of the
United States which Mr. Churchill would agree to as one of the
elements in the possible deal about destroyers. It is important that
no public statement should be made about this as His Majesty’s
Government have to make the necessary arrangements with the various
Colonial Governments concerned.
Believe me, Dear Mr. President,
Yours very sincerely,
[Enclosure 1]
The British Embassy
to the Department of State
Memorandum
General Smuts was sent a copy of the Aide-Mémoire presented to the State Department on July
12th83
setting forth the anxiety of His Majesty’s Government as to
possible economic peace proposal to be launched by Hitler. The
essence of this proposal was that the world would enter a new
and unparalleled era of prosperity if it accepted the
totalitarian management of Europe by Germany and that the only
obstacle in the way of this era of prosperity was the resistance
of Great Britain. To this General Smuts has replied saying that
he thinks that it is probable that Hitler will start a peace
offensive at an early date with either suggestions for a
conference or of peace proposals launched before or after an
attack on Britain. General Smuts has doubts about a blitzkrieg
on Britain for the present because he thinks that British naval
supremacy and the efficiency of the Royal Air Force are two
formidable obstacles.
General Smuts thinks therefore that an alternative plan may be in
contemplation, that would consist of further encirclement of
Great Britain by attempts to seize the Faroe Islands and Iceland
on the right flank and Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar on the
left. Hitler would then have isolated Britain from Europe,
especially if the surrender of Gibraltar entailed the withdrawal
of the British fleet from the Mediterranean and the loss of the
middle East. With practically the whole of Europe in his hands
and with Russia and the Balkans in his pocket Hitler might think
that the auspicious time to launch his peace offensive would be
just before winter comes. He would then pose as the regenerator
of an effete European system and would propose a United States
of Europe composed of so-called free states, between whom tariff
walls and economic barriers would have been abolished and some
currency plan of Dr. Schacht’s84
devising would
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have been
instituted. Being in fact master of Europe Hitler could afford
to restore a semblance of freedom to his victims. America would
then be plausibly reminded of the Monroe Doctrine and the
Continent would well have become a closed German market from
which Britain and America would be largely excluded.
A scheme of this kind could be dressed up in such a plausible
appearance as to make a formidable appeal to world public
opinion sickened by the horrible destruction of war and the
spectre of threatened famine in Europe. If, in addition, Hitler
were big enough to renounce annexations and indemnities the
appeal might become irresistible and might induce Europe to
accept a peace which would be a moral and political disaster of
the first magnitude. General Smuts thinks consultation and
agreement with the United States on a positive alternative plan
will be essential. Meanwhile a warning note could be sounded in
the press and in speeches in both countries to help prepare
public opinion against Hitler’s manoeuvres. Advance ridicule,
Smuts thinks, might well take much of the strength out of
it.
[Enclosure 2]
The British Embassy
to the Department of State
The facilities which His Majesty’s Government in the United
Kingdom are prepared to extend to the United States Government
are as follows:—
- (1)
- The continuation of the facilities already granted to
the United States Government in June, 1939 allowing
United States aircraft and ships to use the waters of
Trinidad, St. Lucia and Bermuda and the United States
naval authorities to lease premises, land stores and in
general make use of the ports in these three islands.
Leases embodying these facilities were drawn up and
signed by the United States authorities and the
appropriate British Colonial authorities in the second
half of 1939.
- (2)
- American military aircraft to be allowed to land at
Jamaica, British Guiana and Trinidad.
- (3)
- Pan-American Airways acting as agents of the United
States Government to be allowed to lease a small area
approximately 1500 feet by 500 feet adjacent to the
Trinidad aerodrome where they could store supplies,
erect a small radio station etc.
- (4)
- Pan-American Airways acting as agents for the United
States Government to be allowed to lease an area of
approximately one square mile near Georgetown, British
Guiana on which an aerodrome could be
constructed.
- (5)
- Pan-American Airways acting as agents for the United
States Government to be allowed to construct an
aerodrome near Kingston,
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Jamaica on similar terms to the
seaplane station which the Company already operates
there.
- (6)
- The United States Army aircraft to be authorised to
make occasional training flights to Newfoundland and
make use of the airport there.
