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740.0011 European War 1939/8231A

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Yugoslavia (Lane)

[Telegram: Paraphrase]

WASHINGTON, February 9, 1941�10 p.m.

21. In regard to recent discussions of the position of this Govern�ment in respect to the developing world situation we desire that you make clear to the Government of Yugoslavia our position as outlined below.

The President said in a recent statement to the Nation, "we are planning our own defense with the utmost urgency and in its vast scale we must integrate the war needs of Britain"

This position continues to be the keystone of the national defense policy of the United States and this effort has been intensified by the developing situation. That Britain will win we are convinced. Al�ready war material production in America has been undertaken on the vast scale indicated and the provision of facilities to meet the requirements of the British will continue until the final victory ever increasingly. On several occasions the President has pointed out that from this policy there can be no deviation as in his own words, "we know now that a nation can have peace with the Nazis only at the price of total surrender."

HULL