On re-reading my telegram No. 124 [1] I think I should amplify to
you arguments that accompanied draft statement that I left with
Welles and which I put to him before showing him statement.

(begins)
Somewhere or other there is a red line at which the United States
must regard its interests as being affected by German and Italian
aggression. Is it not fact at present time red line is at naval
bases in the North East Atlantic: in the United Kingdom, France
and Gibraltar? Is it not of vital interest to the United States
whether these bases are in Allied or enemy hands? If the worst
happens to France and later possibly to Britain and even assuming
in these circumstances British and/or French fleets remained in
existence elsewhere, the bases may not, probably will not remain
in Allied hands. (ends)
I arrived at the above in a desperate search for some argument
that would appeal to the self-interest of the United States, as
apparently all other forms of argument or appeal fall on deaf ears
and are overlain by local party political arguments. [2]

CASEY