SECRECY LIFTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 300, 20 December 1945, Page 5

SECRECY LIFTED

CHURCHILL-ROOSEVELT TALKS AT SEA SPAIN NEARLY INTO WAR HOW U.S. INTENDED TO HELP Recd. 9.25 p.m. Washington, Dec. 18. The veil of secrecy surrounding the Atlantic Charter negotiations at sea between the late President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill, was lifted for members of the Investigating Committee, when secret memoranda irom Mr. Sumner Welles, in August, 1941, were inserted in the record of the Pearl Harbour inquiry. These disclosed:—

Firstly, the war then was going so badly that the British were reconciled to war with Spain, and the loss of Gibraltar; that Mr. Roosevelt tentatively agreed that the United States should seize the Azores as part of a joint plan to maintain the southern Atlantic convoy route to England. Secondly, Mr. Churchill objected to the United States proposal of a promise that all peoples have free and equal access to the markets and raw materials of the world which they needed for their prosperity. Thirdly, Mr. Roosevelt agreed at one time to a parallel warning to Japan. (Mr. Welles, testifying earlier, revealed that the proposed pctallcl warning to Japan never came off). Mr. Welles’ memoranda pointed out tht the United States came into the Azores picture because a British invasion of the Canary Islands would have left them unable to support a pledge to Portugal to defend the Azores.

Mr. Churchill proposed that he notify the Portuguese of it and suggested that it ask the United States for assistance. The memoranda added that, in addition, the United States undertaking to send an occupation force to the Azores, it was agreed that the Brazilian Government should be asked to send at least a token force to participate in the expedition.