September 1941

1 September 1941 President Roosevelt pledged every effort to defeat Germany. (". . . our fundamental rights-including the rights of labor-are threatened by Hitler's violent attempt to rule the world." Bulletin, No. 115, p. 177. Cf. June 20, supra.)
2 September 1941 The United States granted large loan to Mexico. (For cooperation for military and economic defense of the hemisphere. Times, Sept. 3, 1941, p. 1. Cf. Mar. 11, supra.)
2 September 1941 The United States negotiated currency stabilization agreements with Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador. (Economic war against Germany. Times, Sept. 4, 1941, p. 10.) President Roosevelt "gave the Japanese Ambassador replies to the message and the statement received from the Ambassador on August 28. In formulating his replies, the President could not overlook the attendant circumstances and developments.

Because of these circumstances and developments, the President and his consultants felt that, to ensure any hope of the success of a meeting between the President and the Prime Minister, the achievement of a prior meeting of minds on basic principles was a necessary condition precedent. Hence, the President in replying expressed a desire to collaborate with the Japanese Prime Minister to see whether there could be made effective in practice the program referred to by the Japanese Government in its message of August 28 and whether there could be reached a meeting of minds on fundamental principles which would make practical a meeting such as the Japanese Minister had proposed. . . . At no time, then, or later, did the Government of the United States reject the Japanese proposal for a meeting; it strove hard to bring about a situation which would make the holding of such a meeting beneficial." Japan, Vol. II, p. 347.
3 September 1941 MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE "The President proceeded at once to read the written oral statement (copy attached) which had been prepared in reply to the communication recently sent to the President by the Japanese Prime Minister." See doc.
4 September 1941 The United States extended lend-lease aid to Poland. (". . . the gallant resistance of the forces of the Government of Poland is 'vital to the defense of the United States.' " Bulletin, Vol. V, No. 115, p. 181. Cf. Mar. 11, supra.)
4 September 1941 German submarine tried to torpedo American destroyer Greer. ("'. . . en route to Iceland with mail'. . . . She is similar to the fifty ships which were traded to the British Navy for leases of naval and air bases in British possessions. She was painted a dark gray like most war vessels. Her flag might, therefore, be the only thing to distinguish her from the ships of her type which are hunting submarines for the British Navy." Times, Sept. 5, 1941, pp. 1, 4.)
6 September 1941 Japan subscribed to the four principles of President Roosevelt [See April 16, supra] and presented proposals for a basis of discussion. (Japan, Vol. II, p. 604. Cf. Sept. 3, supra. "The Prime Minister hopes that as a result of the commitments which the Japanese Government is prepared to assume . . . a rational basis has been established for a meeting between the President and himself." Peace, pp. 733, 735 f.)
6 September 1941 DRAFT PROPOSAL HANDED BY THE JAPANESE AMBASSADOR (NOMURA) TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE "The Government of Japan undertakes:" See doc.
9 September 1941 Iran accepted British-Russian armistice terms. (Times, Sept. 10, 1941, p. 8. Cf. Aug. 25, supra.)
10 September 1941 Britain furnished memorandum on policy of distribution and export of lend-lease material. (Bulletin, Vol. V, No. 116, pp. 204 ff.)
10 September 1941 Germans imposed martial law on Oslo. (Trade unions had planned a general strike. Times, Sept. 11, 1941, p. 1.)
11 September 1941 President Roosevelt submitted report on lend-lease $7,000,000,000 appropriation to Congress. (Bulletin, Vol. V, No. 122, pp. 311 f. Cf. Mar. 27, supra.)
11 September 1941 RADIO ADDRESS DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT FROM WASHINGTON "The submarine deliberately fired a torpedo at the Greer, followed later by another torpedo attack." See doc.
11 September 1941 President Roosevelt announced shoot‑on‑sight order to United States Navy in American defense waters. (Because of the incidents of the U. S. S. Greer September 4, the S. S. Panaman, and the S. S. Sessca, August 17, and the S. S. Steel Seafarer September 6. "It is the Nazi design to abolish the freedom of the seas and to acquire absolute control and domination of the seas for themselves. "For with control of the seas in their own hands, the way can become clear for their next step–domination of the United States and the Western Hemisphere by force. . . . "It is clear to all Americans that the time has come when the Americas themselves must now be defended. A continuation of attacks in our own waters, or in waters which could be used for further and greater attacks on us, will inevitably weaken American ability to repel Hitlerism. . . ."This is the time for prevention of attack." Bulletin, No. 116, pp. 194-196. Cf. Peace, pp. 739, 742.)
11 September 1941 Russia warned Bulgaria against allowing its territory to be used as a basis of attack by Germany and Italy. (". . . the attitude and actions of the Bulgarian Government in relation to the Soviet Union are disloyal and do not correspond to the attitude and activity of a State maintaining normal relations with the Soviet Union." Times, Sept. 12, 1941, p. 10.)
13 September 1941 Iran ordered departure of Axis diplomats. (Per agreement of September 9, supra. Times, Sept. 14, 1941, p. 14.)
16 September 1941 Syria was proclaimed an independent nation. ("Free France acting in agreement with her ally, Great Britain, has undertaken to terminate the mandate and grant Syria the status of an independent sovereign State and to guarantee the new State by treaty." Times, Sept., 17, 1941, p. 3. Cf. Sept. 9, 1936, supra.)
16 September 1941 Riza Shah Pahlevi of Iran abdicated. (At approach of British and Russian forces near his capital. Times, p. 1.)
18 September 1941 CHIANG KAI-SHEK'S MESSAGE TO NATION ON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOUKDEN INCIDENT "It is just a decade since the Japanese occupied our northeastern city of Moukden and our fellow countrymen in Manchuria are as yet not delivered from the hellish sufferings the enemy invasion has brought upon them. " See doc.
22 September 1941 DOCUMENT HANDED BY THE JAPANESE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (TOYODA) TO THE AMBASSADOR IN JAPAN (GREW) "TEXT OF BASIC JAPANESE TERMS OF PEACE WITH CHINA" See doc.
22 September 1941 Britain demanded Finland end war with Russia. (To avoid being regarded as belligerent enemy. Times, Sept. 24, 1941, p. 1. Cf. June 25, supra.)
22 September 1941 The United States removed embargo on export of arms to Cuba. (". . . the conditions in Cuba which prompted the issuance of the proclamation of June 29, 1934, have ceased to exist, . . ." Bulletin, Vol. V, No. 118, p. 236.)
23 September 1941 MEMORANDUM REGARDING A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE JAPANESE AMBASSADOR (NOMURA) Japan again urged meeting between President Roosevelt and Premier Konoye. (". . . the holding of a meeting such as suggested would be of great value in counteracting the influence of the pro-Axis elements in the Japanese Government and in providing support for those elements desiring peaceful relations with the United States." Peace, p. 746. Cf. Aug. 8 and 28, supra.) See doc.
24 September 1941 Free French National Council announced. (With political aims: recognition as government in exile. Times, Sept. 24, 1941, p. 5. Rice, pp. 152 f.)
24 September 1941 INTER-ALLIED COUNCIL STATEMENT ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE ATLANTIC CHARTER London. " Adherence to the principles set forth in the Roosevelt-Churchill Declarations by the governments allied with Great Britain was formally declared at the second meeting of the Inter-Allied Council, held in London on September 24, 1941." See doc.
25 September 1941 Italy reoccupied demilitarized zone in Croatia. (To secure her Adriatic flank. Times, Sept. 26, 1941, p. 1. Cf. May 18, supra.).
27 September 1941 Japan presented a second proposal for resumption of friendly relations. (Cf. May 12, June 21, supra. Peace, p. 746. )
27 September 1941 DOCUMENT HANDED BY THE JAPANESE AMBASSADOR (NOMURA) TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE "The Governments of Japan and of the United States accept joint responsibility for the initiation and conclusion of a general agree­ment of understanding as expressed in a joint declaration for the resumption of traditional friendly relations." See doc.
27 September 1941 PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT'S "LIBERTY FLEET DAY" ADDRESS Washington, D. C. " We propose that these ships sail the seas as they are intended to. We propose, to the best of our ability, to protect them from torpedo, from shell or from bomb. " See doc.
28 September 1941 Nazis declared state of emergency in Bohemia, Moravia. (". . . irresponsible elements in the service of Europe's enemies" had committed acts antagonistic to the Reich, were endeavoring to stir up the people against Germany. Times, Sept. 29, 1941, p. 1.)
29 September 1941 United States-British missions conferred in Moscow. (To determine Russian defense needs. Bulletin, Vol. V, No. 124, p. 364.)
29 September 1941 MEMORANDUM REGARDING A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE JAPANESE AMBASSADOR (NOMURA) Japan a fourth time urged meeting with President Roosevelt. (". . . if nothing came of the proposal for a meeting between the chiefs of our two Governments it might be difficult for Prince Konoye to retain his position and that Prince Konoye then would be likely to be succeeded by a less moderate leader." Peace, pp. 751 ff . Cf. Aug. 8, Aug. 28, Sept. 24, supra.) See doc.
29 September 1941 TEXT OF A LETTER FROM AMBASSADOR OF POLAND, JAN CIECHANOWSKI, TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, CORDELL HULL, ON THE SUBJECT OF POLISH-SOVIET RELATIONS "I am very glad to be able to tell you on the basis of information I just received from London that the enthusiasm of the Poles in Russia actively to resume the fight against Hitlerite Germany is so great, that the Polish Army in Russia will be virtually an army of volunteers. Great numbers of Poles of military age apply daily demanding to be enrolled immediately in the Polish Forces, thus swelling the ranks of units which are being formed from our regular soldiers who had been interned in Russia. " See doc.
30 September 1941 PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL'S REVIEW OF THE WAR TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS "It seems likely now that we shall bring in several million tons more than the import total which I mentioned in private to the House earlier in the year, which total was itself sufficient to keep us going. We are now within measurable distance of the immense flow of American new building, to which, together with our own construction, we look to carry us through and on progressively till the end of the war." See doc.