Evening star., 1940-12-30
The Presidents MESSAGE

SIDE chat on war. The time has
passed when we could afford to think
in terms of flreside chats, with all
that phrase implies in the way of
security and remoteness from the
consequences of a frightful conflict
which is moving ever closer to our
shores. In this day we have a great
deal more to fear than fear itself.
At the same time, the President
was as wise in his choice of what
not to say as he was in his forceful
and positive exposition of American
policy. His speech was not a bel
ligerent expression, designed to en-
courage or to provoke war. 1t was
candid statement of the facts to be
faced in the avoidance of war,
wholly consistent with the aspira-
tions of a on-belligerent nation
which, hoping for peace must at the
same time take every step necessary
in the protection of its own interests.
In mailing" the talk about sending
American troops abroad the Presi-
dent reiterated the statement that
"our national policy is not directed
toward war. Its sole purpose is to
keep war away from our country and
our people"
Fully cognizant of these facts, the
President made no effort to soften
the picture which he felt impelled to
draw. He warned the Nation frankly
and definitely" that there is danger
ahead-that for us, the existing
emergency is as serious as war itself.
Nor did he hesitate to put into words
an all too obvious truth-that we can
expect to be the object of attack in
another war later on if we submit
tamely to an axis victory now.
In Mr.. Roosevelt's judgment, and
in the judgment of the great majority
of his countrymen, there is but one
policy fer us-that of aiding the Brit
ish and those who are fighting with
them to the very limits of our present
and potential capacity. That this
is policy involving some risk of war
was frankly conceded. But for the
benefit of those Americans who would
risk nothing by doing nothing, the
President pointed out that there is
risk in any course we may take
There is no promise of security in
inaction, indecision, or in cowardice,
and we could incur no greater risk
than to permit the British to go down
in defeat because we were afraid to
give them unstinted aid The great
secret OF Hitler'S success has been his
ability to lull his intended victims
into false sense of security and then
to conquer them in piecemeal fashion
before they could muster the courage
to unite against him: In this man
ner, half dozen risk-fearing nations
have been overrun, and we must not
fail to profit by their mistake.
The President, while emphatically
stating his determination to give
ever greater aid to the British, re-
gardless Of the threats of the dicta-
tors, had no specific recommended
tions to make for increasing our out
put of "the planes, the tanks, the
guns, the freighters" which those
fighting in the front line must have.
But despite this lack of specification,
there is evidence of a significant
change of thinking in his rejection
of the notion of business as usual"
in his assertion that the job of re-
armament cannot be done by super
imposing the defense program on
existing productive facilities, in his
warning that there can be no tolera-
tion of strikes or lockouts. In last
nights talk the desirability of pre-
serving social gains was subordinated
to the imperative necessity of meet
ing the plain threat of aggression,
and that, of itself, is a distinct ad-
vance toward national security. 1t
remains to be seen how Mr.. Roosevelt
intends to implement his demand for
greater production, but, given the
will, the means can be found.
1t is reassuring to learn that the
President, on the basis of the latest
and best information, does not be-
lieve that the axis powers are going
to win the war. Assuming that to be
correct, however, the fact remains
that it is for us to decide whether the
British will achieve stalemate, or
even victory. If this last great ally
of ours is not to be destroyed, there
must be an end in this country to the
talk of a negotiated" peace, the
futility of which was abundantly
demonstrated by Mr.. Roosevelt. And,
sooner rather than later, we must
begin to make some of the individual
sacrifices which, to this time, have
been more conversational than real
The President, in his admirably
frank and detailed statement, has
prepared the framework for that de-
termined and united effort which
must be made if our military con-
tribution is to assume decisive pro-
portions in time to prevent the de-
struction of Britain. But he cannot
do the Job alone. Ultimately. the
great effort must come from the
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