Evening star., 1941-04-28
.Lindbergh Quits
Colonel in
u. U.S.AirCorps
Loyalty Questioned
By Roosevelt, Letter
To President Says
by the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, April 28.-Col.
Charles A. Lindbergh, greatly
disturbed" at implications which
he said President Roosevelt had
made concerning my loyalty to
my country" today made public
a letter to the President resign
ing his commission in the United
States Army Air Corps Reserve.
In his letter, the flyer referred to
remarks made by Mr.. Roosevelt at
press conference last Friday in
which the President classed Col
Lindbergh with appeasers who urged
peace during the Revolutionary and
Civil Wars on the grounds that those
conflicts could not be won.
Col. Lindbergh said the remarks
had disturbed me greatly" and
that he had hoped that I might
exercise my right as an American
citizen to place my viewpoint before
the people of my country in time
of peace without giving up the privi-
lege of serving my country as an
Air Corps officer in the event of
war"
Critical of Foreign Policy.
In a speech in New York last
Wednesday night, Col. Lindbergh
said that "the United States can
not win this war for England, re-
gardless of how much assistance we
extend" He has repeatedly asserted
that Germany was almost certain
to win and has criticized American
foreign policy.
Col. Lindbergh's letter to the
President said Mr.. Roosevelt had
clearly implied that I am no longer
of use to this country as a Reserve
officer, and in view of other implica-
tions that you - have made con-
cerning my loyalty to my country,
my character and my motives, I can
see no honorable alternative to ten
dering my resignation. ="
Text of Lindbergh Letter.
The text of Col. Lindbergh's letter
follows:
My Dear Mr.. President:
Your remarks at a White House
press conference on April 25 in
volving my Reserve commission in
the United States Army Air Corps,
have, Of course, disturbed me great
ly. I had hoped that I might exer-
else my right as an American cltl-
zen, to place my viewpoint before
the people of my country in time of
peace without giving up the priv
ilege of serving my country as an
Air Corps officer in the event of war.
But since you, in your capacity as
President of the United States and
Commander-in-C Chief of the Army,
have clearly implied that I am no
longer of use to this country as a
reserve officer, and in view of other
implications that you, my President
and my superior officer, have made
concerning my loyalty to my coun-
try my character and my motives,
can see no honorable alternative
to rendering my resignation as
colonel in the United States Army
Air Corps Reserve. I am, therefore,
forwarding my resignation to the
Secretary of War.
I take this action with the utmost
regret, for my relationship with the
Air Corps is one of the things that
has meant most to me in life. I place
it second only to my right as cit
izen to speak freely to my fellow
countrymen, and to discuss with
them the issues of war and peace
which confront our Nation in this
crisis.
I will continue to serve my coun-
try to the best of my ability as a
private citizen.
Respectfully,
CHARLES A. LINDBERGH.
Refers to Vallandighams.
President Roosevelt, at his press
conference last Friday. asserted that
it was dumb to consider NaZi vic
tory inevitable.
Col. Lindbergh's name was brought
into the discussion when a reporter
asked why the flyer had not been
sailed into active service, although
he held a commission in the Air
Corps Reserves.
Replying, Mr. Roosevelt said that
during the Civil War numerous for
eigners, liberty loving people, fought
on both sides. and that at the same
time both sides let certain people
go; that is, did not call them into
service
He said the people who were thus
ignored were the Vallandighams. He
explained that the Vallandighams
were people who, from 1863 on, urged
immediate peace, arguing that the
North could not win the war between
the States.
element L. Vallandigham was
member of the House from
Ohio. In 1853 he was arrested
for alleged "treasonable utter
ances" and banished to the Con-
federate States. He was known
as leader of the "Copperheads.~
Mr.. Lindbergh has been colonel
(See LINDBERGH, Page A-10O
~