Lion vs Tiger: The Rivalry Between WWII Leaders

Author: Gu Yue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The five-day conference on the isolated Atlantic island, where atomic bombs were being discussed, saw frequent secret meetings between senior military and political officials from both countries. The President and Prime Minister were almost inseparable, strategizing to sway the course of war. Sometimes, they enjoyed some leisurely war-time banter, chatting freely about various topics. On one occasion, however, it was particularly confidential. Late one night, when only Hopkins was present, Roosevelt asked Churchill in a low voice, "Have your people been working on nuclear fission?" "Quite a bit," the Prime Minister replied confidently. "Bring Cherwell here!" Lord Cherwell, who was in charge of this top-secret project, introduced the research work carried out by the elite of British science under the leadership of the renowned nuclear physicist Sir John Anderson. The results of their research were extremely close to those of the American scientists' "Manhattan Project," and in some aspects, they had even taken the lead over the Americans. This excited the President immensely. "This could be incredibly powerful," he said. "We should definitely work together on this, before the Nazis get ahead." "Very correct," the British Prime Minister immediately agreed, and the two leaders reached a secret agreement on the spot to exchange all intelligence. The day after the meeting, on August 12th, the leaders of the two great powers jointly drafted the Atlantic Charter in the square cabin of President Roosevelt's cruiser, the "Augusta." The two masters of language and eloquent orators, like sculptors shaping rough granite into a monument, discussed and finalized the draft word by word, with occasional fierce debates. Roosevelt read aloud in a loud, melodious voice, "His Excellency the President of the United States of America and Mr. Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of His Majesty's Government; Believing it necessary