GREAT BRITAIN DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY
London, England (JFK+50) British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced today that Great Britain has declared war on Germany.
The announcement comes 2 days after the German military machine attacked Poland.
Australia, New Zealand, & France also declared war on Germany today.
Neville Chamberlain
Portrait by William Orpen (1929)
September 3, 1939
BRITISH PASSENGER SHIP TORPEDOED BY GERMAN U BOAT
London, England (JFK+50) The British government announced today that a German U-boat or submarine torpedoed the British passenger liner Athenia today.
The 1st shots of the "Battle of the Atlantic" were ordered by Fritz Julius Lemp, commander of a U-30 submarine.
The attack came as the Athenia. a 13.580 ton ocean liner, sailed off the northwest coast of Ireland bound for Canada with 1100 passengers.
The German commander reported that the vessel was "zig-zagging" at high speed which would be inconsistent with a passenger ship.*
*311 Americans were on board the Athenia. 118 passengers perished.
Summer 1937
September 3, 1962
JFK TELLS NATION'S YOUTH TO "RETURN TO SCHOOL"
Newport, Rhode Island (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy today announced the meeting of an international conference "devoted to the role of human skills in creating rapid economic progress for the developing countries."
JFK called this conference a "milestone" in economic development.
The President also took the opportunity to encourage the nation's youth to "return to school" this fall.
September 3, 1964
RFK STEPS DOWN AS ATTORNEY GENERAL
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Robert F. Kennedy, brother of the late President John F. Kennedy, resigned today as Attorney General of the United States.
JFK created somewhat of a controversy when he announced the appointment of his own brother to the position after his election to the Presidency in 1960.
Bob Kennedy would become not only one of the youngest & least experienced attorney generals in history, he would also be the 1st relative of a President to serve in the cabinet.
RFK also announced that Stephen E. Smith would be his campaign manager as he seeks to win a Senate seat from the state of New York.*
*JFK joked with reporters in making the announcement of his brother's appointment as attorney general by saying that he saw nothing wrong with giving his brother an opportunity to gain some experience "before he goes out to practice law."
Robert F. Kennedy
White House Cabinet Room
Photo by Yoichi R. Okamoto
LBJ Library Photo (1964)
September 3, 1783
TREATY OF PARIS ENDS REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Paris, France (JFK+50) Representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Spain & France met here in Paris today to sign the "Treaty of Paris, 1783" which officially brings to an end the American Revolutionary War or War for Independence.
By the terms of the treaty, Great Britain recognizes the independence of the United States of America & her status as a free nation.
The boundaries of the USA were also set from Florida to the Great Lakes & the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.*
*The treaty will be ratified by Congress on January 14, 1884.
"American Commissioners of the
Preliminary Peace Agreement
with Great Britain"
Painting by Benjamin West*
*Shown from left to right are John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens & William Temple Franklin.
The painting remained unfinished because the British commissioners refused to pose.
