740.0011 European War 1939/8231b: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Turkey (MacMurray)

12. In view of recent discussions of this Government’s position with regard to the developing world situation we desire you to make clear to the Turkish Government just what our position is as outlined below.

In a recent statement to the nation5 the President said “we are planning our own defense with the utmost urgency and in its vast scale we must integrate the war needs of Britain”.

This continues to be the keystone of American National defense policy and the developing situation has intensified this effort. We are convinced that Britain will win. Production of war material in America has already been undertaken on the vast scale indicated and the providing of facilities to meet British requirements will continue ever increasingly until the final victory. The President has pointed out on several occasions there can be no deviation from this policy as in his own words “we know now that a nation can have peace with the Nazis only at the price of total surrender”.

Hull
  1. Address by President Roosevelt delivered from the White House over a nationwide network, December 29, 1940, Department of State Bulletin, January 4, 1941, p. 3.