The Atlantic Meeting.

'SPECIAL EDITION. PEACE AIMS DEFINED. RECORD OF HISTORIC MID-OCEAN CHURCHILL-ROOSEVELT MEETING PERPETUATED BY CINE-CAMERAS.' British Prime Minister Winston Churchill walks alone on the deck of the battleship HMS Prince of Wales. The Superstructure of the ship and its main 14-in armament is displayed. The brass name plate of the ship and bell are shown, followed by the main armament barrel stops that display the Prince of Wales coat of arms and motto "Ich Dien". The Prime Minister continues his walk on deck in the company of General Sir John Dill (Chief of the Imperial General Staff), Admiral Sir Dudley Pound (First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff), Harry Hopkins (Lend-Lease Administrator and President Roosevelt's personal assistant at foreign conferences) and Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfred Rhodes Freeman (Vice Chief of Air Staff). The Prime Minister and his party discuss points of issue below decks in the ship's wardroom. The assembled group smoke cigarettes as they peruse maps in preparation for the forthcoming meeting with their United States counterparts. Churchill, as the commentary points out, is as much at home in a council of war as at a Cabinet meeting. HMS Prince of Wales arrives safely at its destination in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. The British battleship requests entry to port using a Morse light as Royal Marines parade on its deck. A Royal Navy launch carries the British Prime Minister to his meeting with US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt aboard USS Augusta. A US Marine Corps guard of honour present arms as Churchill is welcomed aboard. A standing President Roosevelt, supported by his son Captain Elliott Roosevelt, formally greets Churchill and they then pose for a photograph session. US navy sailors distribute food parcels on board HMS Prince of Wales as a gift from Churchill to the ship's company. The commentary describes this action as a "Characteristic gesture on the part of that essentially kindly man." Churchill jokes with the ship's company as the distribution of parcels is made, he then poses for photographs with US Navy sailors. A Royal Fleet Reserve sailor opens his food parcel and eats a banana with evident enjoyment. President Roosevelt is welcomed on board HMS Prince of Wales to start the discussions that culminate in the signing of the Atlantic Charter (14th August 1941) High ranking officers and officials mingle informally in discussion on the deck of the British battleship. Admiral Sir Dudley Pound chats to Admiral Harold Raynsford Stark (US Chief of Naval Operations), General Sir John Dill is in conversation with General George Marshall (US Army Chief of Staff), Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfred Rhodes Freeman chats to General Henry Harley Arnold (Chief of the United States Army Air Force). The US Under-Secretary of State Mr Sumner Welles is entertained by an unidentified Royal Navy Reserve officer. The President's son Ensign Franklin Roosevelt talks to Captain Leach of HMS Prince of Wales. Lord Beaverbrook (Minister of Supply) is with Mr W Averell Harriman (US Special Representative for Lend-Lease Negotiations). Three hundred US Navy personnel are invited aboard HMS Prince of Wales to take part in a religious service. The US sailors arrive, saluting the ship's bridge as they come on board. US Marines mix informally with Royal Marines. Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt seem in agreement as they chat while seated on the deck of the battleship. The religious service starts and both leaders sing hymns together. Commentary stresses that Britain and the United States have drawn together as "Liberty makes the whole world kin, no matter what race, creed or colour".

Notes

Documentation and sound: the track of this film is very patchy. The Film and Video Archive does, however, hold a printed version of the English commentary

Series sequence: NOTE that at this point IWM catalogue numbering diverges from the actual issue numbers of the series. IWM catalogue number WPN 26 is a special edition of approximately the same date as issue number 26. The Museum's copy of the regular issue number 26 is held under IWM catalogue number WPN 296