You are requested to convey this letter to His Majesty the King.
[Enclosure]
President Roosevelt to the King of the Belgians
(Leopold
III)
[Washington, November 3, 1939.]
My Dear King Leopold: Your Majesty’s
letter of September 26, 1939, has been handed to me by Monsieur
Theunis in fulfillment of the special mission with which you
entrusted him. It was a great pleasure to receive Monsieur Theunis,
who is well known to me; and I have seen to it that he will be
accorded every facility.
I am especially glad to have the benefit of your personal views on
the particular position of Belgium. This is in part due to the very
close and intimate affection which the American people have for the
memory of your Father, King Albert, whose stand for the independence
of the
[Page 769]
Belgian nation won
for him in this country the highest admiration and respect. But it
is also due to the fact that the Government of the United States,
and I personally, have followed with very deep sympathy Your
Majesty’s recent inspiring efforts to preserve peace in Europe.
Certainly you personally have the satisfaction of knowing that you
did everything within your power to avert the calamity which has
come to pass.
I am in entire agreement with your belief that peace-loving nations,
like your own, cannot be satisfied that their mission ended with the
outbreak of war. The search for a lasting peace based on justice
must go on; indeed, the neutral nations are charged with a greater
responsibility before the human race than previously, since they,
more than any others, can express the desire for a world in which
order in law has once more been restored.
We cordially agree that while the conflict continues, those nations
still at peace must attempt to minimize the effects of economic
warfare, to keep commerce flowing where possible, and to insist that
the carrying on of war does not set up any right in belligerents to
deprive neutral nations of the necessary economic basis for the
continuance of their normal existence.
The Government of the United States is ready to discuss measures with
Monsieur Theunis to achieve this end, and to examine with great care
any suggestions he may have to offer. The economic position of
Belgium is well understood; it is fundamentally unjust that any
nation should be forced into idleness and famine because it refuses
to make war; the humanitarian grounds which Your Majesty asserts are
of the highest; and you may be assured that this Government will not
be indifferent to the appeal which you have made.
The Government of the United States will, therefore, take great
pleasure in actively searching for ways and means by which the end
you seek may be brought about.
Please be assured of my warm personal regard and friendship for Your
Majesty, and my cordial good wishes for your success in seeking a
just solution of the grave problems confronting you.
Yours very sincerely,
[File copy not signed]
