811.04418/554½
The British Prime Minister (Chamberlain) to President Roosevelt 42
My Dear Mr. Roosevelt: In your letter of the 11th September you invited me to write to you personally whenever there were any problems [Page 681] on which I wished to consult you. You may be sure that I shall do so. At the moment, I have no question to raise with you, but I cannot forbear from sending you a private line of thanks and congratulation on the great development of the last week-end.
The repeal of the arms embargo, which has been so anxiously awaited in this country, is not only an assurance that we and our French Allies may draw on the great reservoir of American resources; it is also a profound moral encouragement to us in the struggle upon which we are engaged. As I said in my letter of the 4th October,43 I am convinced that it will have a devastating effect on German morale; it will also, I am confident, have a great influence on world opinion. We here have derived all the greater satisfaction from it because we realise to what an extent we owe it to your personal efforts and goodwill.
May I send you my sincere thanks, not only for the measure itself, but for your great sympathy to which it is so largely due?
With kind regards
Ever sincerely