126 East 34th Street,
New York City,
March 2 1942
Dear Mr. President:
The Duke of Windsor's Miami visit Saturday focuses in my mind
a fact probably unknown to you and an important item for you
to know--that Hitler has no plans against the island while Edward
remains in residence there. He has regarded the Bahamas post
as a "thin official and Buckingham Palace excuse" to
keep Edward as far from home grounds as possible.
It is a major phase of the Fuehrer's policy to restore the
former King, the Nazi viewpoint having been that with Edward
VIII all Berlin-London differences would have been accommodated
without resort to arms.
Moreover, German diplomacy is predicated upon its belief that
both present ruler and government are holding power through a
"coerced" and therefore "null and void" abdication.
Hitler is convinced that Edward's restoration--a first democratic
condition in any peace negotiations Berlin-Rome-Tokyo might control--would
have support among England's proletariat, while the possibility
of an American woman as Queen Consort is apt to have unusual
grass-roots repercussions in the United States.
Though not pertinent or even wise now, my information has
been that Hitler would not mind daring the British Government
to submit the question for a plebiscite. I should not be surprised
if at some favoring time he submitted the suggestion open
Of course, H.R.H. is unlikely to know or even to have heard
about this ace-in-the-hole diplomacy.
Much of this information trickled to me as the oldest of the
international writers in this country and I am certain that as
of today it is approximately as I report it to you. It would
make a sensational or wedge-opening article but I am not so using
it at this most opportune moment. However, you may consider it
a story to pass along. I wanted to send it to our good friend
Josephus Daniels first %and then thought to submit it dire
Sincerely yours,
Signature
His Excellency
Franklin D. Roosevelt,
Washington, D. C