[WSC to General Wavell after initial successes in North Africa]: St. Matthew, chapter VII, verse 7.
[Wavell replied, “St. James, chapter I, verse 17.”]
1940, 18 December. (WW2 II, 543.)
The verses, which neither WSC nor Wavell had to quote to each other, were: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” and "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Wavell s "St.” is misplaced; his quotation is from "The General Epistle of James”.
[I wrote to Roosevelt:] “See St. John chapter XIV verses 1 to 4.” On reading this through more carefully after it had gone, I was a little concerned lest, apart from a shadow of unintended profanity, it should be thought I was taking too much upon myself and thus giving offence. However, the President brushed all objections aside and our plans continued unchanged.
1943, 21 November. (Lowenheim, 394;
WW2 V, 289.)
Roosevelt had cabled that Cairo, their chosen meeting place, was vulnerable to German air attack. Churchill, assured there was strong protection and in a Bible-quoting mood, cabled the reference:
1. Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2. In my Father s house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
2. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
World History
