The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-08

To them the Roosevelt message to Congress meant that the United States would supply to France and Britain in case of war.
 This was exactly the reaction Roosevelt intended. For, begin- ming around Christmas, he had become convinced that war was sure to break in Europe this spring and that there was only one possible chance of heading 1t off, namely by indicating to the Rome-Berlin axis that 1t would have to reckon with the raw ma- terial and munitions strength of the United States.
 RoOsevelt's idea, in other words, was that nations make war only when they can sec immediate victory. With long drawn out war in sight they think twice.
 Today military strategists ad- init that any immediate European war would result in victory for Italy and Germany unless their opponents could get the material support of the United States, in which case the conflict probably would settle down to a long stale- mate. Roosevelt's chief aim, was to head off war by making the risk too great for Hitler and Mussolini.
 NAZI PRESS
 Immdiate effects after January 4th appeared to be good. Rome and Berlin both were scared. Then the Fascist controlled press got to work. They played up the anti-Semitic angle, claimed that Roosevelt, had become the tool of Jewish bankers in New York, was pitching the USA into war at the behest of the Jews. Naturally the Jews knew these reports would be cabled back to the American press.
 Nazi papers headlined all the speeches of Rep. Ham Fish, also of Senator Reynolds of North Carolina, who visited Berlin last summer. These eminent states men were played up to the Ger man people as representative of the great American masses; Roosevelt as the tyrant.
 Later Senators Clark, Nye and Hiram Johnson became the great heroes of the Nazi-Fascist papers. This press play was partly for the purpose of making the Ger man and Italian people believe they had nothing to worry about from the United States, partly for the effect upon the American pub- lie through reprints in the Ameri- can press.
 ROOSEVELT TRAPPED
 Anyway, it had its effect. Shrewd Nazi maneuvering, plus senatorial fireworks, plus Roosevelt impul- siveness, led the President into the trap.
 He has now put himslef into the position of appearing to have contradicted himself on Ameri- can foreign policy within one month. On January 4 he indi- catcd that the United States would give material help to Eu- ropean democracies; on Febru- ary 3 he said the United States had entered no alliances.
 Actually the two do not conflict, but the impression given the pulp lie is conflicting. Also the Presi- dent was on the defensive. Ger tainly the hallelujahs of the Nazi- Fascist press picture the Presi- dent in full and complete re- treat.
 Real fact about last weeks press conference was that Roose- welt did not lose his temper, did not scold. He was calm, collect, had prepared his words carefully in advance.
 But many headlines talked of an "angry" President. Net result of the conference, in any case, was dud. It will rank along side the "horsc and buggy" state ment, made after the Supreme Court threw out the Schechter MIRA case, as one of the definite press boners of Franklin Roose- welt.
 RESPONSIBILITY
 Tip off as to who inspired last weeks press conference came af-