740.0011 European War 1939/28557/28: Telegram
The Ambassador in Italy (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 28—1:48 p.m.]
426. Personal for Welles88 from Kirk.89
“I came down here hurriedly for the sole purpose of telephoning you to say that there was something very much on my mind which I wanted to discuss in Washington and to ask if you thought I could come. If so I propose to try to arrange from here for passage on the first clipper flight from Lisbon as no such arrangement can be made speedily in Berlin. I now find that connections from here are so doubtful that I probably could not reach Washington for a week or more, and furthermore that as events seem to be moving so rapidly whatever use there might be in my suggestions would be negatived if I should want [wait?] to present them in person.
I therefore feel I must give you by cable an indication of the matter in mind although I mistrust this form of communication and realize that any such outline is probably worse than none at all. The point is that I am convinced that a continuation of the progress marked during the past 2 weeks by the German arms will destroy the kind of world which is essential to the existence of our national life and that consequently the fight is already our own. We are now being largely discounted as a factor in this fight because it is expected that it will be over before we are effectively a part of it and it is certain that great care will be taken by Germany to keep us out.
It may not be the moment to speak of the element of morale but our immediate entrance into the war could not help but affect profoundly both sides and furthermore without any certain knowledge I am told that we could fly over immediately several hundred planes and ship many more within the space of a week. My proposal therefore is that we make up our minds to enter the war immediately. Before doing so, however, we should submit at once a general plan for a peace that would take into consideration not only the preservation of those values and interests essential to the integrity of the countries at war with Germany but also the fact that a strong and reasonably satisfied German people is essential for lasting peace and order. In brief it must be a peace which both sides could justifiably accept.
If Germany refuses we declare war and take such active part in it immediately as we can without jeopardizing the actual defense of our country. The other American Republics should follow.
I realize fully how this must sound and how many considerations it ignores, but I am not leading from hysteria. I am convinced that [Page 236] if Germany wins a quick war and dictates a peace there will be no place for us in the kind of world that will follow. If, on the other hand, Germany is eventually beaten by its present opponents it will be at the end of such a war that not only may a just peace be precluded but the social and political system on which our own life is based may be overthrown by general revolution. My plan, therefore, is to attempt to inject some sanity into the present madness and if we fail in that we shall then throw on our weight in order to turn the scales at the moment when a quick victory may be essential to Germany. In so doing we shall only be taking part in a fight which in the last analysis must be ours if we are to preserve our own existence.
Would it be of the least use for me to come over to demonstrate in person my conviction in what I say? If possible, or advisable, please just flash me an indication in care of the Embassy at Rome but if I hear nothing by day after tomorrow I shall return to Berlin.”