Atlantic Conference
anonymous
March 28 2009, 07:20:36 UTC
August 12, 1941- Ship Harbor, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland
It is sunset on the deck of the HMS Prince of Wales. Arthur Kirkland is bathed in its red searing light as he looks over the bay, uncharacteristically slouched up against the railing. He is worn thin, eyes tired, pale skin looking ashen and grey and standing next to him, Alfred thinks he can almost feel the weight of those dark clouds, ominous and blanketing Europe like a thick fog.
He wants to speak, to break the silence but cannot bring himself to do it. There has been nothing but idle talking at this conference, and Alfred is not a man of words, but of actions.
~
August 10, 1941
USS Augusta
Roosevelt and Churchill sit at the large oak desk with their closest advisors huddled around them, discussing strategy in harsh whispers and passionate ramblings. Alfred fidgets in his seat and tries to pay attention, but finds himself covering up a yawn and discreetly stretching his legs under the table. At present they are discussing some kind of collaboration between his and Arthur’s scientist and something called the A-bomb. America keeps himself busy wondering what the A is for, he eventually decides that it must stand for “Awesome.”
~
August 11, 1941
HMS Prince of Wales
Churchill is crouched over a table covered in maps; he pauses the discussion to take a long drag of his cigar. England scrunches up his eyebrows and clenches his jaw as he notices America to his left, trying to balance a pencil on his thumb and failing desperately. England thinks that he might have smiled at that once.
Churchill clears his throat and then continues the discussion involving attention to future military operations, in particular, his desire to launch a second front in Europe to support the struggling Soviet forces.
England knows that America cannot intervene yet. He knows that Roosevelt wants so badly to help; Churchill tells him every day that today’s the day America will finally join us. All the rubbish about being Neutral, that came from the people of America, not his leader or America himself. And England knows what the people of America are capable of, if not appeased. He chuckles darkly to himself, grabbing his teacup and taking little sips of his now lukewarm earl gray.
~
August 12, 1941
HMS Prince of Wales
America is jolted from his thoughts into reality when some sea spray foams up splashing over the railing and sloshes onto America’s jacket. He thinks he sees a ghost of a smile on Arthurs face, and for now he supposes that’s good enough.
“Look Arthur.” He starts, “I just wanted to say before you left…I swear Arthur. If it was my choice, I’d be right there with you. But I…..” Alfred’s voice breaks and a strange silence came over the two of them.
Arthur reaches up and grabs America by the shoulders, hugging him tightly to his chest. England inhales the scent of salt water and leather and whispers softly. “I know, you git. I know.”
Atlantic Conference endnotes
anonymous
March 28 2009, 07:22:10 UTC
“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.
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.”
Signed by: Franklin D. Roosevelt & Winston S. Churchill
______________________The Atlantic Conference (code named "Riviera") was an historic meeting between President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Mister Winston Churchill and their staffs. The discussions at the Conference forged the Anglo-American alliance of World War II, despite America not formally entering the war until Pearl Harbor. Meeting at Ship Harbor, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland from August 9-12, 1941, in great secrecy aboard the heavy cruiser USS Augusta and the battle cruiser HMS Prince of Wales, the two leaders and their staffs discussed general strategy of the war, and laid down the foundations for what would become the United Nations. The Atlantic Charter was a specific document underlying international organizations and principles on which the world after World War II would be founded on.
It is sunset on the deck of the HMS Prince of Wales. Arthur Kirkland is bathed in its red searing light as he looks over the bay, uncharacteristically slouched up against the railing. He is worn thin, eyes tired, pale skin looking ashen and grey and standing next to him, Alfred thinks he can almost feel the weight of those dark clouds, ominous and blanketing Europe like a thick fog.
He wants to speak, to break the silence but cannot bring himself to do it. There has been nothing but idle talking at this conference, and Alfred is not a man of words, but of actions.
~
August 10, 1941
USS Augusta
Roosevelt and Churchill sit at the large oak desk with their closest advisors huddled around them, discussing strategy in harsh whispers and passionate ramblings. Alfred fidgets in his seat and tries to pay attention, but finds himself covering up a yawn and discreetly stretching his legs under the table. At present they are discussing some kind of collaboration between his and Arthur’s scientist and something called the A-bomb. America keeps himself busy wondering what the A is for, he eventually decides that it must stand for “Awesome.”
~
August 11, 1941
HMS Prince of Wales
Churchill is crouched over a table covered in maps; he pauses the discussion to take a long drag of his cigar. England scrunches up his eyebrows and clenches his jaw as he notices America to his left, trying to balance a pencil on his thumb and failing desperately. England thinks that he might have smiled at that once.
Churchill clears his throat and then continues the discussion involving attention to future military operations, in particular, his desire to launch a second front in Europe to support the struggling Soviet forces.
England knows that America cannot intervene yet. He knows that Roosevelt wants so badly to help; Churchill tells him every day that today’s the day America will finally join us. All the rubbish about being Neutral, that came from the people of America, not his leader or America himself. And England knows what the people of America are capable of, if not appeased. He chuckles darkly to himself, grabbing his teacup and taking little sips of his now lukewarm earl gray.
~
August 12, 1941
HMS Prince of Wales
America is jolted from his thoughts into reality when some sea spray foams up splashing over the railing and sloshes onto America’s jacket. He thinks he sees a ghost of a smile on Arthurs face, and for now he supposes that’s good enough.
“Look Arthur.” He starts, “I just wanted to say before you left…I swear Arthur. If it was my choice, I’d be right there with you. But I…..” Alfred’s voice breaks and a strange silence came over the two of them.
Arthur reaches up and grabs America by the shoulders, hugging him tightly to his chest. England inhales the scent of salt water and leather and whispers softly. “I know, you git. I know.”
~
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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.”
Signed by: Franklin D. Roosevelt & Winston S. Churchill
______________________The Atlantic Conference (code named "Riviera") was an historic meeting between President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Mister Winston Churchill and their staffs. The discussions at the Conference forged the Anglo-American alliance of World War II, despite America not formally entering the war until Pearl Harbor. Meeting at Ship Harbor, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland from August 9-12, 1941, in great secrecy aboard the heavy cruiser USS Augusta and the battle cruiser HMS Prince of Wales, the two leaders and their staffs discussed general strategy of the war, and laid down the foundations for what would become the United Nations. The Atlantic Charter was a specific document underlying international organizations and principles on which the world after World War II would be founded on.
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