Evening star., 1941-01-15


phase of national activity became
harnessed to the requirements Of
preparation for war.
More than half of the national in
come was expended for military pur-
poses. Foreign trade and foreign
payments became rigidly controlled
for the same purpose. The produc-
ton of planes and tanks and guns
and all the other countless access
sories Of a modern war machine be-
came the immediate objective Of the
whole national effort.
The second line consisted of
series Of steps directed toward i'm
proving the strategic positions of
Germany. The first of these was
the occupation and fortificati0n of
the Rhineland in 1896, in direct
violation of the Locarno Treaty,
voluntarily entered into by Germany
ten years earlier.
Then followed, in rapid succession,
the absorption of Austria, in direct
violation of pledges given by Hitler
to respect the sovereignty and inde-
pendence Of that country: the dis
memberment and final seizure of
Checho- -Slovakia, in spite of Hitler's
assurances after the seizure of Aus
tria that Germany desired no ad-
ditional territory in Europe and in
violation Of solemn pledge to re-
spect the independence of that
country. officially given October,
1888; the annexation Of Memel;
finally, on September /, 1899. a
brutal attack upon, and the devasta-
ton and partitioning Of Poland.
Reign of Terror and Despotism.
The period of the war has wit
messed the invasion and occupation
of Denmark, Norway, Holland,
Belgium and Luxembourg, in violation
of the scrupulously observed neu-
trality Of these countries and in
contraventiOn, in the cases of some
of these countries, of assurances
expressly given by Germany of her
intention to respect their independ-
ence and sovereignty: the invasion
and partial occupation OF France;
the splitting up of Rumania and
the German occupation Of the re-
manning portion Of that country.
These seizures have been accom-
plished through a combined use of
armed force applied from without
and of an almost unbelievable
amount Of subversive activity from
within. Each of the invaded and
occupied countries has been sub
jected to a reign of terror and
despotism. BY word and by deed,
the invaders have made unmis-
takably clear their determination to
impose permanently upon these un-
fortunate countries a rule of tyranny
frequently reminiscent of the worst
pages Of ancient history.
Steadily Expanding Conquest.
So long as there seemed to re-
main even faint hope of inducing
the leaders of Germany to desist
from the course which they were
following. the Government of the
United States neglected no oppor-
tunity to make its voice heard in
restraint. 1t went further, and
repeatedly offered its assistance
in economic readjustments which
might promote solution of the ex-
isting difficulties by peaceful means.
All hope disappeared when the Nazi
legions struck at Poland and
plunged Europe into rev war.
Since then, 1t has become In
creasingly apparent that mankind
c fa
gional wars or isolated conflicts,
but with an organized, ruthless and
impacable movement of steadily ex-
pandlng conquest We are in the
presence of forces which are, not
restrained by considerations Of law
or principles of morality; which have
fixed no limits for their program
of conquest: which have spread over
large areas on land and are des-
perately struggling now to seize
control Of the oceans as an essen
tial means of achieving and main.
tanning their conquest of the other
continents
Atlantic No Barrier.
Control of the high seas by law
abiding nations is the key to the
security of the Western Hemisphere
in the present-day world situation.
Should that control be gained by
the partners of the tripartite pact,
the danger to our country. great as
1t is today, would be multiplied
many fold.
1t is frequently said that there
can be no danger Of an invasion of
the New World 1t is said: As Ger
many has not been able to cross the
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