Question

Analyzing Roosevelt’s Speech to Congress
Read this quotation from a speech Roosevelt gave to Congress before the passage of the Lend-Lease Act.

We cannot and we will not tell them that they must surrender merely because of present inability to pay for the weapons which we know they must have.

—Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1941

What point is Roosevelt trying to make in this speech?

The British will get weapons from the United States as soon as they are able to pay for them.

The British should be able to fight against Germany, even though they cannot afford more weapons at this point.

The British should surrender to Germany because they could not afford the cost of fighting any longer.

Answer 1

The British should be able to fight against Germany, even though they cannot afford more weapons at this point.

Roosevelt is saying the U.S. will not force Britain to surrender simply because they lack money for arms — implying support (like Lend-Lease) so they can continue fighting.