Evening star., 1939-10-27
Neutrality Foes
SET Up Bogey Man,
President Charges
Theory U. S. Will Send
Soldiers Abroad Is 'Foke,'
Roosevelt Declares

Soldiers Abroad Is 'Foke,'
Roosevelt Declares
Dy the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Oct. 27.-Strongly
resfirming American neutrality
President Roosevelt last night sale
critics Of his foreign policy who have
warned it would force American boys
to shoulder arms abroad were guilty
OF "one of the worst fakes in current
history"
1T is q deliberate setting up OF
an imaginary bogey man." he added
caustically.
The President spoke last night on
the closing program Of the ninth an
nual New York Herald-Tribune
Forum on Current Problems, after
King Leopold III of Belgium de-
clared it was vital for his country
because of economic reasons to re-
main at peace, but that Belgium was
ready to fight, if necessary, to pre-
serve its independence.
The heads of the two nations spoke
from their respective capitals. The
speeches were broadcast nationally
IN this country. Leopold's also was
heard throughout Europe in English
French and Flemish rebroadcasts
from Belgian stations.
Rebukes Breast Beaters."
IN sharp tones President Roose-
welt rebuked orators and commen-
tators and others" In and out OF
Congress. who, he said, have been
beating their breasts and proclaim
ing against sending the boys OF
American mothers to fight on the
battlef1elds of Europe"
That I do not hesitate to label
as one of the worst fakes in current
history" he declared.
The simple truth is that no per-
son in any responsible place in the
national administration in Wash
ington. or in any State government
or in any city government, or in any
county government, has ever sug-
gested, in any shape, manner or
form. the remotest possibility OF
sending the boys of Ameracan
mothers to fight on the battlefields
Of Europe.
That is why I label that argu-
ment a shameless and dishonest
fake
Threat From Two Groups.
Acknowledging 1t was impossible
for Americans to be neutral In
thought as well as in act, the Presi-
dent said:
THE fact of the international sit
uation-the simple fact, without any
bogey in it, without any appeals to
prejudice-is that the United States.
as I have said before, Is neutral and
does not intend to get involved in
war"
The President said democracy was
threatened by two groups-those
who seek. the fulfillment of ideals
at a pace too fast for the machinery
of the body polite to function" and
that small minority which COM
plains that the democratic processes
are inefficient as well as slow"
Extreme Rightists and extreme
Leftists should not be taken out by
us and shot against the WALL he
continued, for they make
us realize the value of the demo-
cratic middle course-especially if
that middle course. in order to keep
up with the times, is Just little bit
left of center"
"An Island Of Peace"
King Leopold, speaking in fluent
English during his 6-minute broad
cast, said Belgium stood side by side
with Holland, IAN island of peace in
the interests of all"
I'VE are prepared to exert our en-
tire strength in order to uphold our
independence, ne added.
Exactly IS years ago, day for day,
the Belgian Army under the COM
mand of my father. King Albert, ar
rested after hard battle the prog
ress Of cruel invasion.
IF we were attacked-and pray
God this may not happen in viola
tlon of the solemn and definite un-
dertakings that were given us in
1887 and were renewed at the outset
Of the present war-we would not
hesitate to fight with the same con-
victlon, but with forces 10 times
stronger"
Bouquets for Press and Radio.
President Roosevelt at the start
OF his speech said he wished to
throw bouquets to the ma jority OF
the press and the radio for their
objective reporting of international
affairs in the last few weeks.
Through period of grave anxiety
both have tried to discriminate be-
tween fact and propaganda and un-
founded rumor and to give their
readers and listeners an unbiased
and factual chronicle of develop
ments.
This has worked 50 we'll in inter-
national reporting" he continued.
that one may be pardoned for
wishing for more of it in the field
OF domestic news. If it is a good
rule in one, why is it not a good rule
In the other?"
Mr.. Roosevelt took occasion to
speak CRITICALLY of nostrums which
have been presented the American
people in the years since the World
War.
Many Americans lost their
heads, he said pointedly, because
several plausible fellows lost theirs
In expounding schemes to end bar
b0rity. to give weekly handouts n