His Excellency Harold B. Butler -4 August 5, 1942.     
 
                                                            
 
 
That unity depended upon the declaration and acceptance of 
      a common purpose; that the common purpose was a New World order 
                  of freedom for the common man.            
 
                                                            
 
 
But the British Government failed to face that problem. Indeed, 
      it has not been faced yet. It has never squarely admitted the 
      need for democracy's maximum efficiency and so for British American 
  unity. Or if it has, it has not gone far beyond the admiss
 
                                                            
 
 
Three years ago, the British Government could have given leadership 
      towards the unity of English-speaking democracy upon the highest 
                       level of efficiency.                 
 
                                                            
 
 
You will remember that when war began, many political leaders 
      in America declared that this war was not America's. But these 
      protests did not wholly effect the national sentiment. The truth 
      is that many Americans of experience saw through the years ahead 
      to the time when America would also be at war. This preview of 
      events opened up their minds to the wisdom of American intervention 
                 at the earliest possible moment.           
 
                                                            
 
 
It was also true that, from the beginning, American chivalry, 
      generosity, love f adventure, hatred of despotism, were searching 
      instinctively for a way to get into a fight. At the same time 
      of the Battle of Britain, American public opinion was reflecting 
      the spirit of that battle. The right kind of leadership from 
      Britain might have done the trick. Light upon the real facts. 
      But there was no light. There was, instead, much fog and confusion 
      and along with them, a very unappealing attitude