Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-10
WASHINGTON c. WEDNESDAY JULY TO- 1910
Text of Roosevelt MESSAGE
New Defense Program Would Equip
US Army of 100000 Men

deride democratic governments as
weak and ineff1cient.
U. S. viii Repel Aggression
In Western Hemisphere.
We, the free men and women of
the United States, with memories
of our fathers to inspire us and
the hopes of our children to sus-
tain us, are determined to be strong
as we'll as free. The apologists for
despotism and those who aid them
by whispering defeatism or ap-
peasement, assert that because we
have not devoted our full energies
to arms and to preparation for war
| that we are now incapable of de-
| tense.
I refute that imputation.
We fully understand the threat of
the new enslavement in which men
may not speak, may not listen, may
not think. AS these threats become
more numerous and their dire mean
ing more clear, it deepens the de-
termination of the American people
to meet them with wholly adequate
defense.
We have seen nation after nation,
some of them weakened by treachery
from within, succumb to the force
OF the aggressor. We see great ma
lions still CALAMITY fighting against
aggression, encouraged by high hope
of ultimate victory.
That we are opposed to war is
known not only to every American,
but to every government in the
world. We will not use our arms in
war OF aggression: we will not send
our men to take part in European
wars.
But, we will repel aggression
against the United States or the
Western Hemisphere. The people
and their representatives in the
Congress know that the threats to
our liberties, the threats to our
security, the threats against our way
OF life, the threats to our institutions
OF religion, OF democracy, and of in
ternational good faith, have in
creased in number and gravity from
month to month, from week to week.
and almost from day to day.
War in Europe Has Shown
Partial Defense Not Enough.
1t is because of these rapid
changes; it is because of the grave
danger to democratic institutions
and above all, it is because of the
united will OF the entire American
people that I come to ask you for a
further authorization of s4.848,171.-
957 for the national defense.
Let no man in this country or
anywhere else believe that because
we In America still cherish freedom
OF religion, of speech, of assembly
OF the preSs-that because we main
TAIN our free democratic political
institutions by which the Nation
after full discussion and debate
chooses its representatives and
leaders for itself-let no man here
or elsewhere believe that we are
| weak.
The United States is the greatest
industrial Nation in the world. It's
people, as workers and as business
men. have proved that they can
unite in the nationl interest and
that they can bring together the
greatest assembly of human skills,
OF mechanical production, and OF
national resources. ever known in
any nation.
The principal lesson Of the war up
TO the present time is that partial
oe1ense is inadequate defense.
II the United States is to have any
defense, 1t must have total defense
We cannot defend ourselves a lit
tile here and little there. We must
be able to defend ourselves wholly
and at any time.
Our plans for national security
therefore, should cover total defense,
believe that the people of this
country are willing to make any
sacrlf1ce to attain that end.
Alter consultation with the War
and Navy Departments and the Ad-
Vlsory Commission of the Council
OF National Defense, I recommend a
1urther program for the national
oe1ense. This contemplates the
provision of funds and authorize
ions for the material requirements
without which the man power of the
Nation, If called into service, can
not effectively operate, either in the
production OF arms and goods, or
their utilization in repelling attack.
To Provide Equipment
For 1,200,000 Men.
In broad outline our immediate
detectives are as follows:
l. To carry forward the naval ex-
panslon program designed to build
up the Navy to meet airy possible
combination of hostile naval forces.
z. To complete the total equip
ment for land force of approx
mately 100000 men, though, of
course, this total of men would not
be in the Army in time of peace.
8. To procure reserve stocks of
tanks, guns, artillery, ammunition,
ETC., for another 100000 men, or a
total of 100000 men if a mobiliza-
ton OF such force should become
necessary.
4. To provide for manufacturing
facilities, public and private, neces-
sary to produce critical items of
equipment required for a land force
OF 100000 men, and to produce the
ordnance items required for the
aircraft program of the Army and
Navy--guns, bombs, armor, bomb
sights and ammunition.
S. Procurement of $4,000 addi-
tional planes for the Army and 1000
for the Navy, complete with neces-
sary spare engines, ornaments and
the most modern equipment.
The foregoing program deals ex-
clusively with materiel requirements.
The Congress is now considering the
enactment of a system of selective