CHANCERIESTHE DIPLOMATIC ATLAS

The Atlantic Charter

1941-08-14

Britain's dependence on American assistance had grown sharply after the fall of France. Roosevelt faced the problem of helping a country at war while keeping within American law and a public reluctance to enter another European conflict. Lend-Lease began to address the supply problem in 1941. [1] [2]

Roosevelt and Churchill met aboard warships off Newfoundland in August 1941, while Britain fought Germany and the United States remained outside the war. Churchill wanted greater American commitment to the struggle; Roosevelt offered a shared statement of purposes for the world that might follow victory. [2]

The declaration published on 14 August set out eight points. It rejected territorial expansion, upheld the right of peoples to choose their government, and called for wider access to trade and raw materials, connecting economic security with freedom from fear in the peace the leaders envisaged. [2] [3]

The Atlantic Charter was a declaration of principles rather than a treaty or an American declaration of war. Applying its promise of self-government across the British Empire was more contentious than restoring the independence of states occupied by Germany, a question the meeting left unresolved. Other governments nevertheless gained a set of public commitments around which to organize wartime cooperation. The United States entered the war in December. [2]

Related Diplomats

  1. Lord Halifax [4] [5]

Sources

  1. Lend-Lease and Military Aid to the Allies in the Early Years of World War II

    Opening paragraphs on American neutrality, France's collapse, and Western Hemisphere defense

  2. The Atlantic Conference and Charter, 1941 — Office of the Historian

    Meeting, objectives, eight principles, and differences over their application

  3. Atlantic Charter — declaration text, Avalon Project

    Declaration, eight points

  4. History of Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, Viscount Halifax

    Biography and final years

  5. Anglo-American Mutual Aid Agreement

    Signature statement and articlesI–VIII; Bulletin publication28February

Related Reading

Cite This Article

The Atlantic Charter. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record dc5492dc71a74f1f325e. https://chanceries.org/research/history/uk-atlantic-a0db74644f/

Download citation
Correction note