The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1940-06-13

isolationists. Such an island rep
resents to me and to the over
whelming majority of Americans
today a helpless nightmare Of a
people without freedom; a people
lodged in prison, handcuffed, hum
cry, and fed through the bars from
day to day by the contemptuous,
Implying masters of other contin-
ents.
It is natural also that we should
ask ourselves how now we can pre-
vent the building Of that prison
and the placing of ourselves in the
midst Of it.
Let us not hesitate-all of us
to proclaim certain truths. Over
whelmingly we, as a nation, and
this applies to all the other Ameri-
can nations, are convinced that
military and naval victory for the
gods Of force and hate would en-
danger the institutions of democr-
acy in the western woodland that
equally, therefore, the whole of our
sympathies lies with those nations
which are giving their life blood
in combat against those forces.
The people and government Of
the United States have seen with
the utmost regret and with grave
disquiet the decision Of the Italian
government to engage in the hos
tilities now raging in Europe.
More than three months ago the
chief of the italian government
sent me word that because of the
determination of Italy to limit, so
far as might be possible, the spread
of the European conflict, more than
200 ,0OO, 900 of people in the region
of the Mediterranean had been en-
abled to escape the suffering and
the devastation of war.
Warnings To Italy
Are Related
informed the chief of the Ital-
ian government that this desire on
the part of Italy to prevent the
war from spreading met with SYM
pathy and response on the part of
the government and the people of
the United States, and I expressed
the earnest hope of this govern
ment that this policy on the part
Of Italy might be continued. I
made it clear that in the opinion
Of the government of the United
States any extension of the hos
tilities in the region of the Medi-
terranean might result in a still
greater enlargement Of the scene
Of the conflict in the near east and
in Africa and that If this came to
pass no one could foretell how
much greater the extension Of the
war might eventually become.
Again upon a subsequent occas-
ion, recognizing that certain aspir-
atoms of Italy might form the bas-
is Of discussions between the pow
ers most specifically concerned, I
offered, in a message addressed to
the chief of the italian govern
ment, to send to the governments
Of France and Of Great Britain
such specific indications of the de-
sires of Italy to obtain readjust-
ments with regard to her position
as the chief Of the italian govern
ment might desire to transmit thru
me. While making it clear that
the government of the United
States in such event could not and
would not assume responsibility
for the nature Of the proposals
submitted nor for agreements
which might thereafter be reach
ed, I proposed that If Italy would
refrain from entering the war I
would be willing to ask assurances
from the other powers concerned
that they would faithfully execute
any agreement so reached and that
Italy's voice in any future peace
conference would have the same
authority as If Italy has actually
taken part in the war as bellig-
erent.
Duce Refuses Offer
OF F. r.. Offices
Unfortunately, the chief Of the
Italian government was unwilling
to accept the procedure suggested.
The efforts Of this government
have been directed to doing what
it could to work for the preserva-
ton of peace in the Mediterranean
area, and it likewise expressed its
willingness to endeavor to cooper
ate with the government of Italy
when the appropriate occasion
arose for the creation of stable
world order, through the reduction
of ornaments, and through the
construction of a more liberal in
ternational economic system which
would assure to all powers equality
of opportunity in the worlds mar
kets and in the securing Of raw
materials on equal terms.
I have likewise, of course, felt
IL necessary in NV communications