033.4111/338½
President Roosevelt to the British Prime Minister (Chamberlain)37
My Dear Mr. Chamberlain: I have read with much interest your letter of July 839 to Mr. Norman Davis in reply to a letter39 which he wrote to you at my suggestion. I am pleased to learn that you think it would be desirable to make a visit here—as suggested—as soon as conditions appear to warrant your doing so; and also that we are in accord as to the importance of Anglo-American cooperation in the promotion of economic stability and peace in the world. I agree with you that however desirable a meeting between us may be, it is necessary that it should be properly prepared and timed if it is to have fruitful results.
My suggestion to Mr. Davis, which he conveyed in his letter to you, was that if the ground could be sufficiently prepared in advance, it would be most agreeable to me if your visit could be made in the early fall. I recognize however that events have not so shaped themselves as to make such an early visit practicable.
I appreciate the desirability of making such progress as is possible on other lines which would have a bearing upon the timing of your visit here. I would be glad, however, to receive any suggestions you may have as to any additional preparatory steps that might be taken as between ourselves in the near future to expedite progress towards the goal desired.
I am [etc.]