Evening star., 1939-10-14
Text of L;ndbergh Neutrality Speech
Four-Point Suggestion includes Ban
On Sale Of Offensive Weapons
BY the Associated Press.

on the arms eMO0TgO ISSUE.
Tonight, speak again to the
people of this country who are
opposed to the United States en-
tering the war which is now
going on in Europe. We are
faced with the need of deciding
on a policy Of American neutral
ity. The future of our nation
and of our civilization rests upon
the wisdom and foresight We use.
Much as peace is to be desired,
we should realize that behind q
successful policy of neutrality
must stand policy Of war. 1t
is essential to define clearly those
principles and circumstances for
which nation will fight. Let us
give no one the impression that
Americas love for peace means
that she is afraid of war, or that
we are not fully capable and will
ing to defend all that is vital to
us. National life and influence
depend upon national strength,
both in character and in arms. A
neutrality built on pacifism alone
will eventually fail
Line Must First Be Drawn
Between Neutrality and War.
Before we can intelligently en-
act regulations for the control Of
our armaments, our credit, and
our ships. We must draw a sharp
dividing line between neutrality
and war; there must be no grad
ual encroachment on the defense
of our nation. Up to this line we
may adjust our affairs to gain
the advantages of peace, but
beyond it must lie all the armed
might of America. coiled in readi-
ness to spring If once this bond
is cut.
Let us make char to all coun-
tries where this line lies. 1t must
be both within our intent and our
capabilities. There must be no
question of trading or bluff in this
hemisphere. Let us give no
promises we cannot keep-make
no meaningless assurances to an
Ethiopia, a ho-Slovakia. or a
Poland. The policy we decide
upon should be as clear cut as
our shorelines, and as easily de-
Tended as our continent.
This Western Hemisphere is
our domain. 1t is our right to
trade freely within it. From
Alaska to Labrador, from the
Hawaiian Islands to Bermuda,
from Canada to South America,
we must allow no invading army
to set foot. These are the out
posts of the United States. They
form the essential outline of our
geographical defense. We must
be ready to wage war with all the
resources of our Nation if they
are ever seriously threatened.
Their defense is the mission OF
our Army, our Navy, and our
Air Corps-the minimum re-
quirement of our military
strength. Around these places
should lie our line between neu-
trality and war. Let there be
no compromise about our right
to defend or trade within this
area. If it is challenged by any
nation, the answer must be war.
Our policy of neutrality should
have this as it's foundation.
Questions Right Of Canadians
To Involve Hemisphere in War.
We must protect our sister
American nations from foreign
invasion, both for their welfare
and our own. But, in turn, they
have a duty to us. They should
not place us in the position of
having to defend them in Amer
lea while they engage In wars
abroad. Can we rightfully per-
NIT any country in America to
give bases to foreign warships,
or to send its army abroad to
fight while it remains secure in
our protection at home? We de-
sire the utmost friendship with
the people of Canada. If their
country is ever attacked, our
Navy will be defending their
seas, our soldiers will fight on
their battlefields, our flyers will
die in their skies. But have they
the right to draw this hemis-
phere into European war simply
because they prefer the crown
of England to American inde-
pendence?
Sooner or later we must de-
mand the freedom of this con-
tinent and its surrounding
islands from the dictates of Eu-
ropean power. American his
tory clearly indicates this need.
AS long as European powers
maintain their influence in our
hemisphere, we are likely to
find ourselves involved in their
tIOuUlCS. Allu CklCy WALL AOcS AN
opportunity to involve us.
Our Congress Is now assembled
to decide upon the best policy
for this country to maintain
during the war which is going
on in Europe. The legislation
under discussion involves three
major issues-the embargo of
arms, the restriction of shipping
and the allowance of credit.
The action we take In regard
to these issues will be an i'm
portant indication to ourselves,
and to the nations of Europe,
whether or not we are likely to
enter the conflict eventually as
we did in the last war. The en-
tire world is watching us. The
action we take in America may
either stop or precipitate this
war.
Let us take up these issues,
one at time, and examine
them. First, the embargo Of
arms. 1t is argued that the re-
peal of this embargo would as
sist democracy in Europe, that
it would let us make a profit
for ourselves from the sale of
munitions abroad and, at the
same time, help to build up our