Evening star., 1941-09-12
RooseveIt's Address
Wars Turning Point,
British Believe
Skeptieism Erudieoted,
English Public Is
Greatly Encouraged
By HELEN KIRKPATRICK,

BY HELEN KIRKPATRICK,
Foreisn Correspondent of The Star and
Chicago Daily News.
LONDON. Sept. 12-British skep-
ticism vanished with the clearcut
and decisive words of President
Roosevelt last night and his an
nouncement that the United States
Navy and Army Air Corps had been
instructed to clear American de-
fensive waters" of Axis warships.
The British public had steeled it
self for yet another disappointment
from the United States and awoke
today pleasantly surprised, i'm
mensely encouraged and convinced
that the Presidents speech has
marked the real turning point OF the
war.
The hour at which the President
broadcast made his British audience
small both because it was not an
nounced that it would be relayed
here, as it was. at o'clock this
morning and because many had
reached the conclusion that the
United States intended to ignore
every challenge flung down by Ger
MANY and wished to spare them
selves further disappointment.
The morning newspapers carried
the full text of the Presidents speech
with huge headlines;
United States to shoot first
TT means business. all right was
the comment of the man in the
street today.
Next Move Germany's.
The general view IN informed
quarters was that the speech was
directed to the American people and
to Germany and that the next
move would have to come from
Germany. The implications Tor
Britain have not been lost. par
ticularlv the fact that the British
NAVY will be greatly relieved IN AT
lantic waters.
The London Daily Express editorial
SAYS:
"Those who doubted at any time
the spirit of the American Nation
to go all out with us in the tight Tor
the four freedoms must bow their
heads. Germany knows her danger.
Today is a big day for the
democratic cause, decisive day IN
the war
The London News-Chronicle sees.
four-ffths of the Atlantic closed TO
Axis operations except ''at direct and
invited risk of being shot at by
American warships or warplaneS.'
The choice is presented to Hitler,
the NeWs-C Chronicle thinks, and he
will have to decide whether ito let
American aid reach the Allies rela-
lively unimpeded or to stop 1t, or
try to stop it, at the price of open
conflict" The News-Chronicle con-
cludes:
The United States may still be a
long way from open war, but this
morning she is definitely nearer it
than yesterday
The London Evening Standard re-
CARDS the Presidents speech as the
clearest. most precise words he has
uttered and ones which can leave
no doubt in Germany what her dis
regard of the freedom of the seas
and violation of American defen-
sive waters will mean. If Hitler re-
fuses to accept the warning, he
must expect open clashes with the
United States Navy, which can only
lead to war: if he needs the warn
ing, supplies to Britain are assured
and his victory is impossible, it
declares.
Fierce Quandary" for Hitler.
1T is a fierce quandary in which
Hitler is placed by the Presidents
most brilliant stroke of statesman
ship" concludes the Standard Our
guess is that he will pursue his i'm
mediate aim of, destroying Soviet
Russia before melting the United
States. If that be his purpose, the
President has armed us the better
to parry it. The President leads
his Nation with great audacity. Our
response must be more audacity."
The vague definition of American
defensive waters is remarked on by
every one. Few here attempt to
interpret it. 1t is generally as
sumed that the sea lanes from
America to Iceland are included and
some newspapers suggest that the
term covers virtually the entire At
1antic
But informed circles think the
President has left the term unde-
fined in order to give the United
States sufficient leeWay to meet any
situation or emergency which might
arise. The Red Sea is believed to
have been included under the free
dom of the seas clause, but some
suggest that it, like the Pacific,
might be regarded as defensive
waters
Speculation seems to agree that
the President will probably ask for
the repeal of the Neutrality Act and
there are some who believe that that
is responsible for the recall Of
Congress.
tcopyright, 1941, Chicago Daily News, Inc }