The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-11
Text Of President ROOsevelt's
Talk At University Of Virginia

Let us not heS1tate-au OF us
to proclaim certain truths. Over
whelmingly we, as a nation, and
this applies to all the other Ameri-
can nations, are convinced h a t
military and naval victory for
the gods of force and hate would
endanger the institutions of demo-
cracy in the western woodland
that equally, therefore, the whole
or sympathies lie with those
nations which r giving their life
blood in combat against those for
ces.
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. 4
Word From Italy
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, tn e
spread Of the European conflict.
more than 200, 600, 900 of people in
the region of the Mediterranean
had been enabled to escape the
suffering and the devastation Of
war.
I informed the chief of the Italian
government that this desire on the
part of Italy to prevent the war
from spreading met with sympathy
and response on the part of the
government and the people of the
United States, and I expressed the
earnest hope of this government
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 hostiliies in
the region of the Mediterranean
might result in a still greater en-
|largment of the scene of the con-
1ict in the near east and in Africa
and that if this came to pass no
one could ~foretell how much great
er the extension of the war might
eventually become.
Again upon a subsequent occa-
sion, recognizing that certain as
pirations of Italy might form the
basis of discussions between the
powers most specifically concern
ed, I offered, in a message ad-
dressed to the chief of the Italian
government to send to the gov
ernments of France and of Great
Britain such specific indications of
the desires of Italy to obtain re-
adjustments with regard to h e r
position as the chief of the Italian
government might desire to trans
init through me. While making it
clear that the government of the
United States in such event could
not and would not assume respon-
sibility for the nature of the pro-
posals submitted nor for agree
ments which might thereafter be
reached, l proposed that if Italy
would refrain from entering the
war l would be willing to ask as
surances from the other powers
concerned that they would faith
fully execute any agreement SO
reached and that Italy's voice in
any future peace conference would
have the same authority as i
Italy had actually taken part in
the war as a belligerent.
Unwilling to Accept
Unfortunately, the chief of the
Italian government was unwilling
to accept the procedure suggest
ed.
The efforts of this government
have been directed to doing what
it could to work for the preser-
walton OF peace in the Mediterr-
anean area, and it likewise ex-
pressed its willingness to endeavor
to cooperate with the government
OF Italy when the appropriate &C.
casloa arose for the creation of a
stable world order, through the
reduction of ornaments, and
through the construction of a more
liberal international economic sys.
tenn which would assure to a Il
powers equality of opportunity in
the worlds markets and in the
securing of raw materials on equal
terms.
l have likewise, of course. fel,
1t necessary in my communications
to Slgnor Mussolini to express the
concern OF the government of the
Y. >. because of the fact that
any extension of the war in the
region of the Mediterranean would
inevitably result in great prejudice
to the ways of life and government
and to the trade and commerce of
all the American republics.
Inc government of Italy has now
CHOSEN to preserve what it terms
It's freedom of action and to full.
fill what it states are its nromises
to Germany. In SO doing it has
manifested disregard for the rights
ana security of other nations. for
the ives of the peoples of those
nations which are directly threat
ened by this spread of the war:
and has evidenced it's unwilling
ness to find the means through
pacific negotiations for the salts
faction of what it believes are it's
legitimate aspirations.
on this tenth day of June, 1910,
the hand that held the dagger has
struck it in the back of its neigh
Dor.
On this tenth day of June, 1910,
in this university founded by the
hrst great American teacher O f