Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-05-28

me White House by President
Roosevelt.
I am speaking tonight from
the White House, in the presence
Of the Governing Board of the
Pan-American Union, the Ca
madam Minister and their fam
lilies. The members of this beard
are the Ambassadors and Min
listers of the American republics
in Washington. 1t is appropriate
that I do this. Now, as never be-
fore, the unity of the American
republics is of supreme impor-
lance to each and every one of us
and to the cause of freedom
throughout the world. Our future
independence is bound no with
the future independence of all OF
our sister republics.
The pressing problems that
confront us are military prob
lens. We cannot afford to ap-
proach them from the point OF
view of wishful thinkers or senti-
mentalists. What we face is cold,
hard fact.
The first and fundamental fact
Is that what started as a Eu-
ropean war has developed, as the
NaMs always intended it should
develop, into a world war for
world domination.
Adolf Hitler never considered
the domination of Europe as an
end in itself. European conquest
was but a step toward ultimate
goals in all the other continents.
It Is Enthusiastically apparent to
all of us that unless the advance
of Hitlerism is forcibly checked
now the Western Hemisphere will
be within range of the Nazl weap-
ons of destruction
For our own defense we have
accordingly undertaken certain
obviously necessary measures.
First, We joined in concluding
u Sci lCS VI dSl CCIliCliCo WIN GA
the other American republics.
This further solidiied our hem
isphere against the common
danger.
And then, year ago, We
launched and are successfully
carrying out the largest arma-
ment production program we
have ever undertaken.
We have added substantially to
our splendid Navy and we have
mustered our man power to build
up a new Army which is already
worthy of the highest traditions
of our military service.
We instituted a policy of aid
for the democracies-the nations
which have fought for the con-
tinuation of human liberties.
Whole Program Based
On Hard Headed Concern.
This policy had its origin in
the first month of the war, when
I urged upon the Congress repeal
of the arms embargo provisions
in the neutrality law. In that
message of September, 1899, I
said: II should like to be able to
offer the hope that the shadow
over the world might swiftly pass.
I cannot. The facts compel my
stating, with candor, that darker
periods may lie ahead
In the subsequent months, the
shadows deepened and length
ened. And the night spread over
Poland, Denmark. Norway, Hol-
land. Belgium, Luxembourg and
France.
In June, 1910, Britain stood
alone, faced by the same ma
chine of terror which had over
whelmed her Allies. Our Cow
eminent rushed arms to meet
her desperate needs.
In September, 1910, an agree
ment was completed with Great
Britain for the trade of so de-
stroyers for eight important
off shore bases.
In March, 1941, the Congress
passed the lease-lend bill and
an appropriation of $1,000, 000,-
900 to implement it. This law
realistically provided for material
aid for the government OF any
country whose defense the Presi-
dent deems vital to the defense OF
the United States"
Our whole program of aid for
the democracies has been based
on hard-headed concern for our
own security and for the kind
of safe and civilized world in
which we wish to live. Every
dollar of material we send helps
10 keep the dictators away from
our own hemisphere. Every day
that they are held off gives us
time to build more guns and
tanks and planes and ships.
We have made no pretense
about our own self-interest in
this aid. Great Britain under
stands it-and so does NaA
Germany.
And now-after a year-Brit-
ain still fights CALAMITY, on a
"far-fung battle line" We have
doubled and redoubled our vast
production, increasing, month by
month, our material supply of
tools of war for ourselves and
Britain and China-and eventu-
ally for all the democracies.
The supply of these tools will
not fail-it will increase.
With greatly augmented
strength the United States and
the other American republics
now chart their course in the
situation Of today.
Your Government knows what
terms Hitler, If victorious, would
impose. They are, indeed, the
only terms on which he would
accept a so-called negotiated"
peace.
Under those terms, Germany
would literally parcel out the
world-hoisting the swastika it
self over vast territories and
populations, and setting up pup
pet governments of its own
choosing, wholly subject to the.
will and the policy of a con-
queror.
Nazis Would Fasten