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Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Historic extra-illustrated broadside of The Atlantic Charter signed (... (Total: 2 Items)
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Description
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Historic extra-illustrated broadside of The Atlantic Charter signed ("Franklin D. Roosevelt" and "Winston S. Churchill"). 1 sheet (13.25 x 20.75 inches), August 14, 1941 [signed later during the World War II in The White House Map Room, Washington, D.C.] The decorative document is printed on heavy stock paper with gilt lion and eagle symbols at corners and rope margins. Exhibits slight creasing.In the months before U.S. entry into World War II, Roosevelt and Churchill agree on goals and the shape of the world after the "final destruction of the Nazi tyranny."
The only signed copy of The Atlantic Charter known to exist.
The broadside reads in full:
THE ATLANTIC CHARTER
The President of the United States of America and the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, representing His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, being met together, deem it right to make known certain common principles in the national policies of their respective countries on which they base their hopes for a better future for the world.
I
Their countries seek no aggrandizement, territorial or other.
II
They desire to see no territorial changes that do not accord with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned.
III
They respect the right of all peoples to choose the form of government under which they will live; and they wish to see sovereign rights and self-government restored to those who have been forcibly deprived of them.
IV
They will endeavor, with due respect for their existing obligations, to further the enjoyment by all States, great or small, victor or vanquished, of access, on equal terms, to the trade and to the raw materials of the world which are needed for their economic prosperity.
V
They desire to bring about the fullest collaboration between all nations in the economic field with the object of securing, for all, improved labor standards, economic advancement and social security.
VI
After the final destruction of the Nazi tyranny, they hope to see established a peace which will afford to all nations the means of dwelling in safety within their own boundaries, and which will afford assurance that all the men in all the lands may live out their lives in freedom from fear and want.
VII
Such a peace should enable all men to traverse the high seas and oceans without hindrance.
VIII
They believe that all of the nations of the world, for realistic as well as spiritual reasons, must come to the abandonment of the use of force. Since no future peace can be maintained if land, sea or air armaments continue to be employed by nations which threaten, or may threaten, aggression outside of their frontiers, they believe, pending the establishment of a wider and permanent system of general security, that the disarmament of such nations is essential. They will likewise aid and encourage all other practicable measures which will lighten for peace-loving peoples the crushing burden of armaments.
14 August 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt Winston S. Churchill
[Signed] Franklin D. Roosevelt Winston S. Churchill
In August 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt secretly left Washington, D.C. for a rendezvous with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland aboard the U.S.S. Augusta. It was the first time the two men met in person, even though they had long been in correspondence. The United States was officially neutral and not involved in the fighting, but Roosevelt had been supplying Britain with war materials, first on a cash and carry basis, and then through the Lend-Lease Act, for nearly ten months. Their meeting reaffirmed the American commitment to Britain, decided on goals for the war and postwar world, pledged to eliminate the Nazi threat, and echoed many of the lofty ideals of Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms" speech, delivered on 6 January 1941. Informally, the two men agreed to watch for an appropriate international incident to justify American entry into the war. Since the policy was issued as a statement, there was no formal, legal document called "Atlantic Charter" ever signed by both leaders.
This represents the only known copy of The Atlantic Charter signed by both Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.
George M. Elsey (1918-2015), officer of the U.S. Naval Reserve, was assigned to the White House Map Room (intelligence and communications center) in April 1942 through April 1947. During the war, FDR and Churchill visited the Map Room frequently. Elsey was given this ceremonial copy of The Atlantic Charter and showed it to Churchill during one of his visits. Churchill stunned the young officer by offering to sign his copy and went on to suggest he have FDR sign it as well. Elsey secured the second signature from President Roosevelt and the copy remained in his family until it was sold by a relative. George Elsey later served as an advisor and speechwriter to President Harry Truman. Following his government service, Elsey served as President of the American Red Cross from 1970-1980. References to this document are published in numerous articles, including The Chicago Tribune, Portland Business Journal and George Elsey's memoir An Unplanned Life. A monumentally important signed document representing the alliance forged by the top leaders of the free world and their mutual aim to defeat Nazi Germany and policies which would follow in a postwar world.
[Together with:] Harry S. Truman. Document appointing George M. Elsey to Administrative Assistant signed ("Harry Truman") as President. 1 partially printed document, filled-in in manuscript, (18.5 x 14 inches, sight), "City of Washington", August 16, 1949. White Presidential paper seal intact at lower left. One small area of soiling.
A presidential document appointing George M. Elsey as "Administrative Assistant to the President of the United States of America." Dean Acheson countersigns the document as Secretary of State.
Auction Info
2022 May 7 Treasures from the Melvin "Pete" Mark, Jr. Collection Signature® Auction #6256 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2022
7th
Saturday
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