A visit from the British prime minister would be less likely to antagonize majority opinion if the United States was already at war with all the Axis powers than if it was suspected that Britain was scheming to have the United States formally intervene in Europe. Consequently, Roosevelt accepted Churchill’s assessment that the “naval situation and other matters of strategy require discussion.” In a final flourish, he stated unequivocally: “Delighted to have you here at the White House.” And he signed off by assuring Churchill, “The news is bad but it will be better.”
