[Meeting Between President Roosevelt and Vice-President Henry Wallace - May, 1943]
Wallace: "And what does General Marshall think?"
Roosevelt: "He estimates 3-4 divisions, and from the reports the Cubans are providing, they're landing near here, at Cienfuegos, some rotten tropical port south of Havana."
Wallace: "And we do nothing."
Roosevelt: "Couldn't do anything, Henry. Cordell trusted the Germans far too much, I suspected. Sending him to the London Conference was a mistake, I fear. It conferred far too much legitimacy on the German conquest."
Wallace: "And it gave Congress a chance to contain our diplomacy."
Roosevelt: "Hmm, yes. Our fair Senators saw no need for our divisions to sit in tropical garrisons and contract malaria. But now, French and Spanish forces, backed by German arms, landing in Cuba? This is it, Henry. The Germans are coming for real. Assemble the Chiefs, I'll need to speak with them after I address Congress. And send a message to General Groves in New Mexico. We'll need to speak with him at once."
[Partial Transcript of President Roosevelt's Speech to Joint Session of Congress - late May, 1943]
President Roosevelt asks for a declaration of war against Germany
"The United States has always maintained a historical relationship with Cuba, above and beyond our Monroe Doctrine barring the Europeans from this hemisphere. For too long, we have neglected our bonds with our fraternal brothers to the south. In 1898, we liberated them, shared nationhood together in freedom and justice, and now, my fellow Americans, we have failed them.
It is confirmed that the German Reich, conqueror of Europe, destroyer of the Russian steppes, and friend to every evil inclination in this world, has initiated military operations in the Western Hemisphere. French and Spanish troops, who could not conceive of such a plan without German thinking, have begun landings in Cuba for the purpose of subjugating that nation and perhaps, to use the island as a base for future operations in the Caribbean.
This is the day when the United States must take its place as a defender of freedom. We avoided our duty when Paris fell, when London fell, when Moscow fell, and even when fascism found a home in Argentina. We've ignored the dangers for far too long. My fellow Americans, I call upon you to throw off your mantle of isolationism at last, and take up the sword, in defense of your principles. You may, perhaps, have hoped to avoid the evil of the world by not becoming involving in its affairs, but now the evil has found you! Don't hesitate!
In keeping with my duties as President of the United States, chief executive officer, and commander-in-chief of its armed forces, I ask that this Congress declare that a state of war exists between the United States of America and the Greater German Reich, including all those nations which fight alongside it. The American people, in their righteous might, will win through to ultimate victory.
