The Atlantic Conference And Charter 1941

was a joint declaration released by US president Franklin D. Roosevelt and British prime minister Winston Churchill following a meeting of the two heads of state in new foundland

it provided a broad statement of Us and British war aims

August 14, 1941

it was called in response to the geopolitical situation in Europe by mid 1941

they met aboard the Augusta in Placentia bay, Newfoundland to discuss their respective war aims for the second world war and to outline a postwar international system

included 8 common principles that the United States and great Britain would be committed to supporting in the postwar world

both countries agreed not to seek territorial expansion, to seek liberalization international trade, to establish freedom the seas, international labor, economic, and welfare standards, both were also commited to supporting the restoration of self governments for all countries that had been occupied during the war and allowing all peoples to choose their own form of government

succeeded in drafting these aims ( the 8 common principles) but failed in producing the desired results for either leader

he hoped that the charter might encourage the American people to back US intervention in world war 2 on behalf of the allies

remained adamantly opposed to such a policy until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941

he wanted them to affirm publicly that it was not involved in any secret treaties, particularly ones concerning territorial questions, such as those concluded by the Allies during the first world war concerning the division of enemy territory at wars end

arrange the terms by which they would repay the US for its lend lease assistance, wanted them to pay compensation by dismantling their system of imperial preference

he was disappointed, he understood that several aspects of the proposed joint declaration might be politically damaging for the prime minister

worried it would anger the protectionist wing of his Conservative party

the Americans also proved unwilling to warn Japan too strongly against any future military action against British possessions in Southeast Asia, he was also alarmed by the clause that mentioned the rights of people to choose their own government

that it was the most he could accomplish during the conference and it would raise morale of the British public and bind the inited states closer to Great Britain

publicly affirmed the sense of solidarity between the US and Great Britian against axis aggression, it laid out the post war world, one that would be characterized by freer exchanges of trade, self determination, disarmament and collective security, serve as an inspiration for colonial subjects throughout the third world, from Algeria to Vietnam as they fought for independence