Evening star., 1940-05-27
Roosevelt Pledges
Adequate Defense
Will Be Expedited
Broadcast Coils for End
Of Feors and Worms
Against Propaganda
(Tert OF Presidents Speech
on Page A-ff.)

Americans muSt raise Lnelr mora
and mental defenses as never before
against the ''undiluted poison" oi
foreign-sponsored disse1sion, Presi-
dent Roosevelt warned last night In
pledgins that the Nations armed
forces will Be built up swiftly to
Whatever heights the future may
require
Calling for an end to both 'fear
and Illusion" the Chief Executive
declared in his 14th radio @fireside
chat" that there was nothing In the
present emergency to justify q re-
treat from New Deal social objec-
lives.
He denied charges of some ad-
ministration critics that money
spent for the Army and Navy since
1883 had gone down the rat-hole, -
asserting that instead it had pro-
vided the largest, the best equipped
and the best trained peacetime mill
tary establishment in the history OF
this country"
In solemn appeal for national
unity, the President emphasized
that "today's threat to our national
security Is not a matter OF military
weapons alone" in view Of "the
clever schemes of foreign agents
to create discord and sap the Ma
tion's strength "at its very roots"
Urges Mental Defenses."
ave must deal vigorously" he
said, with spies, saboteurs and trail
tors" while "our moral and mental
defenses must be raised as never be-
fore against those who would cast q
smoke screen across our vision"
New forces are being unleased,
Mr.. Roosevelt continued, "deliber.
ately planned propagandas to divide
and weaken us In the, face Of
danger.
"A group that may be sectional OF
racial or political Is encouraged tc
exploit their prejudices through false
slogans and emotional appeals. The
aim Of those who deliberately egg
on these groups Is to create con-
fusion OF counsel, public indecision
political paralysis and eventually q
state Of panic.
These dividing forces are un-
diluted poison. They must not be
allowed to spread In the New World
as they have in the Old"
The President said that "the past
two weeks have meant the shatter-
ing Of many illusions" for persons
who had CLOSED their eyes" to
events abroad or @wF1o would not
admit the possibility Of the ap-
preaching storm"
Review Of Program.
The Presidents address was largely
review of the expanded defense
program and its effect on industry,
labor and consumers. He spoke ct
. desk In the diplomatic cloak
room on the basement floor Of the
White House, surrounded by q few
invited friends.
Immediately afterward he left on
an overnight yachting cruise down
the Potomac. He was accompanied
by Secretary Hopkins, who has been
active In plans to step up indus
trial production for defense put-
poses.
Mr.. Roosevelt returned from his
overnight cr1lise in time TO have
lunch ct the White House with
Secretary Morsenthau. He had no
other callers during the afternoon.
Today Stephen Early. presidential
secretary, said complete details Of 4
projected defense c0-ordinating
group, to be composed of Govern
nient oficials and civilians, probably
would Be announced this week. No
names Of those who win head up
the defense council, he said, can be
disclosed yet.
~. Early said MOr6 than 11D00
Ga ROo6KVILT PaSs A-6J