The Grand Alliance (86 page)

One afternoon in late July Harry Hopkins came into the garden of Downing Street and we sat together in the sunshine. Presently he said that the President would like very much to have a meeting with me in some lonely bay or other. I replied at once that I was sure the Cabinet would give me leave. Thus all was soon arranged. Placentia Bay, in Newfoundland, was chosen, the date of August 9 was fixed, and our latest battleship, the
Prince of Wales,
was placed under orders accordingly. I had the keenest desire to meet Mr. Roosevelt, with whom I had now corresponded The Grand Alliance

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with increasing intimacy for nearly two years. Moreover, a conference between us would proclaim the ever closer association of Britain and the United States, would cause our enemies concern, make Japan ponder, and cheer our friends. There was also much business to be settled about American intervention in the Atlantic, aid to Russia, our own supplies, and above all the increasing menace of Japan.

Former Naval Person

25 July 41

to

President

Roosevelt

Cabinet has approved my leaving. Am arranging, if
convenient to you, to sail August 4, meeting you some
time 8th-9th-10th. Actual secret rendezvous need not
be settled till later. Admiralty will propose details
through usual channels. Am bringing First Sea Lord
Admiral Pound, C.I.G.S. Dill, and Vice-Chief Air Free-man. Am looking forward enormously to our talks,
which may be of service to the future.

I said to Ismay: “You and Portal must stay behind and mind the shop.”

I also took with me Sir Alexander Cadogan, of the Foreign Office; Lord Cherwell, Colonels Hollis and Jacob, of the Defence Office; and my personal staff. In addition there were a number of high officers of the technical and administrative branches and the Plans Division. The President said he would bring the chiefs of the United States fighting services with him, and Mr. Sumner Welles of the State Department. The utmost secrecy was necessary because of the large numbers of U-boats then in the North Atlantic. To ensure secrecy the President, who was ostensibly on a holiday cruise, transshipped at sea to the cruiser
Augusta,
and left his yacht behind him as a blind.

Meanwhile Harry Hopkins, though far from well, obtained Roosevelt’s authority to fly to Moscow, a long, tiring, and The Grand Alliance

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dangerous journey, by Norway, Sweden, and Finland, in order to obtain directly from Stalin the fullest knowledge of the Soviet position and needs. He was to join the
Prince of
Wales
at Scapa Flow.

The long special train which carried our whole company, including a large ciphering staff, picked me up at the station near Chequers. We boarded the
Prince of Wales
from a destroyer at Scapa.

Before darkness fell on August 4 the
Prince of Wales
with her escort of destroyers steamed out into the broad waters of the Atlantic. I found Harry Hopkins much exhausted by his long air journeys and exacting conferences in Moscow.

Indeed, he had arrived at Scapa two days before in such a condition that the Admiral had put him to bed at once and kept him there. Nevertheless, he was as gay as ever, gathered strength slowly during the voyage, and told me all about his mission.

Former

Naval

4-5 Aug. 41

Person to President

Roosevelt

Harry returned dead-beat from Russia, but is lively
again now. We shall get him in fine trim on the voyage.

We are just off. It is twenty-seven years ago today that
Huns began their last war. We must make a good job of
it this time. Twice ought to be enough. Look forward so
much to our meeting. Kindest regards.

The spacious quarters over the propellers, which are most comfortable in harbour, become almost uninhabitable through vibration in heavy weather at sea, so I moved to the Admiral’s sea-cabin on the bridge for working and sleeping. I took a great liking to our captain, Leach, a charming and lovable man and all that a British sailor should be. Alas! within four months he and many of his

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comrades and his splendid ship were sunk for ever beneath the waves. On the second day the seas were so heavy that we had to choose between slowing down and dropping our destroyer escort. Admiral Pound, First Sea Lord, gave the decision. Thenceforward we went on at high speed alone.

There were several U-boats reported, which we made zigzags and wide diversions to avoid. Absolute wireless silence was sought. We could receive messages, but for a while we could not speak except at intervals. Thus there was a lull in my daily routine and a strange sense of leisure which I had not known since the war began. For the first time for many months I could read a book for pleasure.

Oliver Lyttelton, Minister of State in Cairo, had given me
Captain Hornblower, R.N.
1
,
which I found vastly entertaining. When a chance came, I sent him the message, “I find
Hornblower
admirable.” This caused perturbation in the Middle East Headquarters, where it was imagined that “Hornblower” was the code-word for some special operation of which they had not been told.

The sea was rough and the quarterdeck unusable, but I found plenty of exercise in making my way three or four times a day through all the compartments and up and down all the ladders to the bridge. In the evenings we had an excellent cinema, where the latest and best films were presented to our party and to those officers who were off duty. Cadogan in his diary notes: “Film
Lady Hamilton
after dinner. Excellent. P.M., seeing it for the fifth time, still deeply moved. At the close he addressed the company:

‘Gentlemen, I thought this film would interest you, showing great events similar to those in which you have been taking part.’ ”The voyage was an agreeable interlude.

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529

Resting in my small but comfortable sea-cabin and bed on the bridge, I brooded on the future battle in the Desert in the light of all the reports which I had studied of the spring fighting, and achieved a memorandum for the Chiefs of Staff, with the first sentence of which I was much pleased:

“Renown awaits the Commander who first restores artillery to its proper place on the battlefield, from which it has been ousted by heavily armoured fighting vehicles.” This will appear in its proper place in the narrative.

Mr. Attlee, who acted in my absence as Deputy Prime Minister, was concerned about my safety. He feared that the
Tirpitz
would be sent out to catch the
Prince of Wales
if the slightest leakage occurred.

Prime Minister to Lord

6 Aug. 41

Privy Seal

I don’t see much harm in leakage. If asked a direct
question [in the House] questioner should be asked not
to put his question; but if he persists the answer should
be, “I cannot undertake to deal with rumour.” About
Tirpitz: I fear there will be no such luck. Have no doubt
Roosevelt will see us out to sea on the return journey.

We have now picked up new destroyer escort.

Before starting on my voyage I thought it would be best for Lord Beaverbrook to deal for us with the whole question of American supplies to Russia. I dreaded the loss of what we had expected and so direly needed. I had left behind me the following instructions:

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530

Prime Minister to Sir

3 Aug. 41

Edward

Bridges,

General

Ismay,and

Private Office

On or about the 10th an aeroplane, possibly carrying
Lord Beaverbrook, will come out to us. This must bring,
apart from letters and urgent papers, an assortment of
the most important Foreign Office telegrams, perhaps
paraphrased. Competent people must be put to make
the assortments, and they must be put in a weighted
case, so that they will sink in the sea if anything happens to the aeroplane.

Pray put this in train.

While at sea I signalled:

Prime Minister to Lord

7 Aug. 41

Beaverbrook

If you feel like coming, which I should greatly welcome, aim at afternoon eleventh or morning twelfth, but
please do not run needless risks. It may be advisable
for you to stay longer on this [American] side.

We arrived at our rendezvous in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, at 9 A.M. on Saturday, August 9.

Prime Minister to His

9 Aug. 41

Majesty the King

With humble duty, I have arrived safely, and am
visiting the President this morning.

As soon as the customary naval courtesies had been exchanged, I went aboard the
Augusta
and greeted President Roosevelt, who received me with all honours. He stood supported by the arm of his son Elliott while the national anthems were played, and then gave me the warmest of welcomes. I gave him a letter from the King and The Grand Alliance

531

presented the members of my party. Conversations were then begun between the President and myself, Mr. Sumner Welles and Sir Alexander Cadogan, and the Staff officers on both sides, which proceeded more or less continuously for the remaining days of our visit, sometimes man to man and sometimes in larger conferences.

On Sunday morning, August 10, Mr. Roosevelt came aboard H.M.S.
Prince of Wales
and, with his Staff officers and several hundred representatives of all ranks of the United States Navy and Marines, attended Divine Service on the quarterdeck. This service was felt by us all to be a deeply moving expression of the unity of faith of our two peoples, and none who took part in it will forget the spectacle presented that sunlit morning on the crowded quarterdeck – the symbolism of the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes draped side by side on the pulpit; the American and British chaplains sharing in the reading of the prayers; the highest naval, military, and air officers of Britain and the United States grouped in one body behind the President and me; the close-packed ranks of British and American sailors, completely intermingled, sharing the same books and joining fervently together in the prayers and hymns familiar to both.

I chose the hymns myself – “For Those in Peril on the Sea”

and “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” We ended with “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” which Macaulay reminds us the Ironsides had chanted as they bore John Hampden’s body to the grave. Every word seemed to stir the heart. It was a great hour to live. Nearly half those who sang were soon to die.