Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-03
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, Oct. 3.-FollotD-
ting Is the teri OF speech pre-
pared for delivery at a Republi-
can rally here last night by
Wendell L. Willkie, Republican
presidential nominee.
A few days ago there was an
nounced in Berlin pact be-
tween three nations-the three
most aggressive nations on earth
Germany, Italy and Japan.
1t is a commonly accepted fact
that alliance Is aimed at the
United States. It says in effect
that If we become involved In
a war with Japan, then Germany
and italy will join that war
against US.
And If, on the other hand, we
become involved in war with
Germany, then Japan and Italy
will join against us.
We don't know what motives
those nations have in signing
such a pact. But for the present
We don't have to know, because
one thing is clear enough.
1t is clear enough, I believe,
that Germany, Italy and Japan
are thinking of the United States
in terms of war, in terms of our
participation in some bloody con-
fiict of the future. Either they
have aggressive designs against
us, or else they suspect us of
having aggressive designs against
them.
American People Determined
To Remain Peaceful.
7 am shocked by this fact, and
I know that you people are. The
American people do not want
war. They have no idea what
ever of joining in any conflict,
whether on the Atlantic or the
Pacific. They are determined to
keep America at peace.
In this determination I stand
with them. I am for keeping out
of war. I am for peace for
America.
And want to ask this ques-
ton: Where are we? How did
we get into this position? What
have we done, overtly or secretely,
to cause the most ruthless states
In the world to make this ag-
gressive declaration?
I say we must stop right where
we are. We must stop and look
about us and take stock OF our al
fairs. Let us stop and think. Let
us talk among ourselves. Let us
reason. Let us find out what our
foreign policy is. Let us determine
what it really ought to be.
For my part I have little con-
fidence that the policy OF the last
seven and a half years has been
the policy best calculated to pro-
mote peace.
I have still less confidence that
the policy at the present time Is
calculated to preserve peace. And
have no confidence at all in the
ability Of the present administra-
ton to protect our peace with
an adequate defense system.
Want No More Incidents
Until Defenses Are Strong.
In the present situation my
confidence is in the American
people. I have confidence in
what they want. And I have con-
fidence in their ability to get 1t.
What the American people
want above everything else is
defense system so strong that
none of these nations will dare to
strike at us, from whatever mo-
tives. And until the people have
that defense system they don't
want any more international in
cidents. They don't want any
more dramatic gestures. They
don't want any more swashbuck-
ling words, Before talking any
more they want to get down to
business. They want to build
themselves. an Army. a Navy,
and, above all, an air force. They
want to make themselves strong.
That is what I stand for. 1
say that the first plank OF our
foreign policy is defense sys-
TEN. I'll even go further than
that. Until we get defense
system we cannot have foreign
policy that means anything at
all.
For many years the American
people have been told that theirs
is the greatest and most power
full country on earth. We did
everything in big way. We
produced the most steel. We
consumed the most rubber. We
had the most gold. We had the
tallest buildings and the longest
concrete roads-more sedans and
more radios than any other coun-
try. We were so great in these
ways-so it was said-that one
word from the United States to
. foreign ruler would make him
tremble in his boots. All that
u,e hod IN do tn maintain Deace