Evening star., 1940-01-03
Roosevelt Voices Plea for UNITY
As Safeguard for Democracy
In His Message to Congress
Urges U. S. to Be
Ready to Work
For Proper Peace
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

President Roosevelt told Congress
today this country must have ma
tional unity" if democracy in Amer
lea is to be preserved, in view of
world conditions.
For national unity is, in a very
real and deep sense, the fundamental
safeguard of all democracy the
President said.
Coupled with this plea for ma
tional unity was an attack on the
''apologists for foreign aggressors. y
the selfish and partisan groups at
home who wrap themselves IN a
false mantle of Americanism to pro-
mote their own economic, financial
and political advantage" who are
trying to "set our own people to
fighting among themselves"
Such tactics" commented the
President, ARE what have helped to
plunge Europe into war"
The President definitely proposed
that this country hold itself in
readiness to aid in making a proper
peace when the time comes.
Defense Increase Proposed.
He also proposed that national
defense be increased, and that the
Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act,
which is due to expire next June,
be continued.
He said the United States plays a
prominent part in bringing about
world peace. He added, however.
that I'VE must likewise be prepared
to take care of ourselves if the world
cannot attain peace"
He said he was asking Congress to
levy additional taxes to care for the
increased national defense expendi-
lures
The Presidents concluding hope
was that the closing session of the
Seventy-Sixth Congress should con-
slider the needs of the Nation and
humanity with calmness, tolerance
and cooperative wisdom" and that
the wear 1910 be pointed to as an
other period when democracy justi-
fed its existence.
Speaking before a joint session of
the two houses of Congress in the
House chamber. where were gath
cred also many of the high officials
OF the Government, the President
laid great stress upon foreign af-
fairs
The impact of wars abroad he
said, makes it natural to approach
the state of the Union through a
discussion of foreign affairs" He
added, however, that the Congress
and the American people should net
believe that this Government is
overlooking in any way the great
significance of its domestic policies. +"
Only by successfully dealing with
the social and economic forces can
America hope to avoid revolution
and dictatorship-such as have
come about in other lands.
"Isolationists" Criticized.
The President ridiculed the 'iso-
lationists' who wishfully insist
that the United States can live in
side high wall of isolation while,
outside, the rest of civilization is
shattered.
Il can understand" said the
President, "the feelings of those who
warn the Nation that they will
never again consent to the sending
OF American youth to fight on the
soil of Europe But, as I remember,
nobody has asked them to consent
for nobody expects such an under
taking"
The President said the over
whelming majority of Americans
have not abandoned the hope and
expectation that this country will
not become involved in military par
tlcipation in the war abroad.
But continued the President.
there is vast difference between
keeping out of war and pretending
that this war is none of our business.
We do not have to 60 to war with
other nations, but at least we can
strive with other nations 10 en-
courage the right kind of peace that
will tighten the troubles of the world,
and by so doing help our own Ma
tlon as we'll"
The President warned that if free
dom is destroyed in other nations,
grave danger will confront the
United States. He implied that
America cannot continue to be free
If freedom is lost in the remainder
Of the world.
Must Look Ahead"
I'VE must look ahead" he said,
"and see the effect on our own fu-
ture if all the small nations
throughout the world have their
independence snatched from them
we must look ahead and see
the kind of lives our children would
have to lead if a large part of the
rest of the world were compelled
to worship the god imposed by a
military ruler we must look
ahead and see the effect on our
future generations if world trade
is controlled by any nation or group
OF nations which sets up that con-
troll through military force"
Il hope" said the President, sum-
ming up this need of looking ahead,
that we will have fewer ostriches
In our midst. 1t is not good for the
ultimate health of ostriches to bury
their heads in the sand. Only an
ostrich would look upon these wars
through the eyes of cynicism or
ridicule.'
The President omitted from his
message any specific proposals for
new legislation. He referred, how
ever, to the need for continued con-
servation of the natural resources
OF the country, the improvement of
(See ROOSEVELT Page A-6)