Evening star., 1941-09-02
Byrd Says America
Has Failed WoefuIIy'
In Aiding Britain
Senator Urges Sacrifice
Now in Broadcast on
Star Radio Forum

Senator Harry F. Byrd. Democrat,
of Virginia discussed the progress
and lack of ito date in the defense
program in an address broadcast last
night in the National Radio Forum.
Arranged by The Star, the broad
cast was over National Broadcast
ing Co. network and was heard 10
cally over WMAL.
The text of Senator Byrd's address
follows:
AS one among the great radio
audience listening on Monday eve
nings to The Star Forum, I express
to The Washington Evening Star
my profound gratitude for Its pa
triotic and informative public serv-
ice. I appreciate as an honor and
a privilege the opportunity to par
ticipate tonight in the Forum. I
trust what I shall say will equal its
high standards of endeavor.
The assigned subject of National
Defense now is one directly vital TO
the lives and even the souls OF every
individual among us.
Tonight 1 want all of those who
hear me to know I speak on the
failures of our national defense pro-
gram and of the delays in giving ex-
peditious and effective aid to Eng
land as one who has supported, up
to this time, all-every single one
of the foreign policies OF the Presi-
dent of the United States, as one
who is anxious to be helpful and TO
make these policies fully and quickly
effective, as one who believes that
the American people are entitled to
know the truth respecting the prog
ress of our defense program; that
free and frank discussion of the in
effciencies of disorganization and
the unwarranted delays that have
occurred will act as an incentive to
remove the obstacles that now exist
in the great effort our country Is
making.
Public Should Know Facts.
If democracy means anything. 1t
means that in times OF great Crisis
the people should know the true
facts upon which they must make
vital decisions. Events in recent
days make it more imperative than
ever that the American people know
the truth about the progress OF our
defense program and aid to ENGLAND.
From the beginning of the Euro
pean conflict have believed that
the surest way for America to avoid
war is to be ready to repel any at
tack made upon us and to be pre-
pared to conquer and destroy any
nation or nations making that at
tack, I believe unstinted aid to Eng
land in war equipment and supplies
is clearly to the interest OF America,
and that this assistance should be
given today-now-and not further
delayed. Already avoidsble delays
have diminished seriously the et-
fectiveness of our assistance. we
have done more in talking than In
effective action.
The avoidance of war, except to
repel attack by our own strong de-
tense and by giving aid to England,
have been and will be the con-
trolling influence in my official acts.
In any event, in my judgment 1t
would be an act of utter folly to
become a voluntary shooting bel
ligerent in the European conflict in
our present state of unpreparedness.
I am not an isolationiSt. am
not a pacifist. AS a member OF the
Senate of the United States my con-
Germ is first and last the protection
and security of our own Republic
to preserve our freedoms and our
American way of living-to cast my
vote and act as an official of the
United States Government solely to
promote the best interests Of Ameri-
ca. I believe firmly that our safety
lies in total preparedness for our
selves and giving aid to England
In equipment and military supplies.
winston Churchill said to Ameri-
ca: "Give us the tools and we will
finish the job
We Have Failed Woefully.
Anthony Eden, speaking for the
English government only two days
ago. said that the struggle will final
~ be decided in the quantity OF
production Of mechanical war
equipment, and he called for further
efforts and further sacrifices in the
immense task that lies ahead in the
field of production. Speaking di-
rectly to America, Mr.. Eden said:
"All over the world We need your
~eapons-in Russia, in the Far
East, in Libya and over Germany"
So far we have failed Woefully in
sending to England the fighting
planes-the long-range, four-en-
sined bombers-the heavy tanks,
the anti-aircraft guns, the merchant
ships, the powder and the shells, all
of which she must have.
The conservative London Sunday
Times said in its leading editorial
published in London yesterday,
.Only a fraction of American in
dustry is harnessed to war produc-
ton" and then this English paper
continued, "Is it asking too much
of the comfortable New World to
devote some more millions of man
days to salvation?" The London
Times said further, "Let it roll
said Mr.. Churchill Of Anglo -Ameri-
can cooperation. But it doesn't.
There is a stream, but no river. Poor,
glorious Greece" the Times con-
tinued, "got literally nothing"
America is the greatest industrial
Nation in the world. We have the
greatest resources of any nation in
Che world. Our most effective aid
to England is to mobilize the pro-
ductive capacity of this country so
rs to produce, and produce quickly,
the bombing planes, the huge tanks,
the vessels and those other imple-
ments of war England needs SO des-
perately. Our job in America is a
production job, and If we do this
fob well, America will save the
world for democracy.
Free From Exaggeration.
On March II last the distin-
guished Secretary of War, the Hon
crable Henry L. Stimson, said in a
public address,
ga fraa Coyyary,Yoapt does rot on