I shall be glad if you will arrange for the immediate personal
presentation to President Roosevelt on behalf of myself of the
following message [1]-
'In this hour of great emergency, not only for Great Britain and
for France, but also for Australia and the other British
Dominions, I desire to put before you certain considerations.

Though we are determined to win and are by no means anticipating
defeat, it is still obviously possible that France may be defeated
and that in such an event Great Britain's power to resist Germany
will depend on her Navy and her ability to resist or prevent air
attack.

This would mean that air strength would become vital, and I do not
need to point out to you that Germany has great numerical
preponderance. Successful attacks upon British factories
interrupting production might be decisive.

I hope you will not find me unduly unconventional if I say to you,
as the head of the greatest but most friendly neutral power, that
the prevention of British Fleet falling into German hands in
consequence of a defeat of Great Britain must be of vital
importance to the United States.

I cannot believe that the United States can view with anything but
acute anxiety a Europe completely dominated by Germany and a
victorious Germany exercising undisputed power in the Eastern
Atlantic and its adjoining seas. One must also remember that on a
defeat of Great Britain the handing over of the West Indian
islands would undoubtedly be demanded by Germany.

I believe that your great country has it in its power to make a
decisive contribution without itself actually participating. The
one country that can rapidly and substantially increase British
air power is the United States and even if this means despatch to
Great Britain of machines already in commission or designed for
your own Air Force I would most earnestly urge you to follow that
course.

I am quite confident of the British capacity to meet all attacks
against the United Kingdom and in turn to inflict such damage upon
Germany as to produce her defeat-provided that the United States
can supply the additional aeroplanes which are required. But quite
plainly-and I know that you would wish me to speak plainly-without
the most prompt material assistance from the United States there
must be a grave danger of a state of affairs rapidly developing in
which the power of Great Britain to defend liberty and free
institutions is destroyed and in which we, your English-speaking
neighbours on the Pacific Basin, must find our own independence
immediately imperilled.

There is in Australia a great belief in your friendliness and
goodwill. We feel that we are fighting for immortal things which
you value as we do.

On behalf of my own people I beg for your earnest consideration
and swift action. [2]

R. G. MENZIES