500.A15A4/2196b

President Roosevelt to the British Prime Minister ( MacDonald )7f

My Dear Mr. MacDonald: I am asking Norman Davis to hand this to you for it gives me not only the opportunity of thanking you for your note from Lossiemouth7g but also to tell you of my grave concern for the success of the Disarmament Conference.

Like you, I am concerned by events in Germany for I feel that an insane rush to further armaments in Continental Europe is infinitely more dangerous than any number of squabbles over gold or stabilization or tariffs. The latter do not arouse the passions or fears of the average citizen but drilling and arming when carried on on a national scale excite whole populations to frenzies that end in war.

As you know, England and the United States think along parallel lines on this. The United States has gone very far and is honestly unselfish in working for European peace. You and Great Britain, however, have an even greater influence in the European situation than we have—and, therefore, a greater responsibility.

Do, please, for the sake of peace, do all you can. I do not have to urge you to this, I know, but I do want you to realize how much we count on British influence to bring about a definite success.

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I hope much that you have had a bit of a holiday at home. Give my best wishes and those of Mrs. Roosevelt to Ishbel.7h Keep your-selt fit and keep up the good fight.

Always sincerely yours,

[File copy not signed]

P. S. When you see M. Daladier, I wish you would be good enough to extend to him my cordial greetings. Tell him that I wish much I could have the opportunity of seeing him in person. I am very certain that we entertain the same hopes and ideals and I count greatly on his cooperation in the cause of world peace. A success in the Disarmament Conference will do much to help solve the less pressing economic problems of the world.

  1. Photostatic copy obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N. Y.
  2. See letter of August 5 from the Prime Minister, p. 747.
  3. Miss Ishbel MacDonald, daughter of the Prime Minister.