WI: HMS PoW Sunk on the way to Atlantic Charter?

[ChaosNDiscord]

The Atlantic charter was a meeting between Churchill and Roosevelt that started August 9th, 1941 and led to the Declaration by the United Nations.

From wiki: "The Atlantic Charter set goals for the postwar world and inspired many of the international agreements that shaped the world thereafter. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT), the postwar independence of European colonies, and much more are derived from the Atlantic Charter."

So what if a boat gets lucky and sinks the Prince of Wales with Churchill onboard? Will a replacement charter be much the same if one even is created? Who replaces Churchill? How's does this affect US/British cooperation? Soviet/British cooperation as well?

 

[perfectgeneral]

That all stems from "Who replaces Churchill?". Clem Attlee is the deputy PM. Tories would have a fit at that, for all the talk of national unity.

 

[Coulsdon Eagle]

That all stems from "Who replaces Churchill?". Clem Attlee is the deputy PM. Tories would have a fit at that, for all the talk of national unity.

It will be Eden, as the Conservatives still hold a huge majority in the House of Commons; even Labour would acknowledge that. Deputy PM means you stand in when the PM is absent, not that you are the heir apparent. For a more modern example, John Prescott stood in when Tony Blair was unavailable in the Commons, but everyone knew the next PM would be Gordon Brown. It's not the US vice-presidency.

 

[perfectgeneral]

Eden's track record for negotiating with US presidents? He might have more luck with FDR than he did later over Suez. I don't think he would be as eager to cement the UK/US relationship with quite so many gifts and deals. Churchill was very pro-US.

 

[Coulsdon Eagle]

My understanding was that quite a few Conservatives had their doubts over Eden, and that they wondered how resolute he was behind that cultured facade. He'd run with the government then abandoned them (or resigned on a point of honour - depends on your POV). Surprisingly Churchill was one - that seems to be one of the reasons why he delayed his retirement as PM. Perhaps close exposure to Anthony highlighted the flaws?

Anyway, if Churchill was removed in 1940-45 the reality is next PM was Eden - there was no-one else to challenge him within the Conservative Party at that time.

 

[Peg Leg Pom]

Churchill was very pro-US.

He was half American.