Evening star., 1941-12-09

but we are fighting and will be
compelled to fight all the resources
that Japan and that Hitler and
Mussolini and those who work with
them under the triparty treaty be-
tween the Axis and Japan to defend
ourselves against the combined
forces of these nations to prevent
their conquering Europe and Africa
and Asia and encircling the United
States and the Western Hemisphere,
and endangering all that we have
lived and fought for for $50 years
and all that we want, not only in
the United States, but in the West
ern Hemisphere. 1t involved the
Monroe Doctrine, which has been
an American document for 125 years.
1t involves our self-defense, the in
tegrity of our Nation, the honor OF
our people, the question Of freedom
and democracy here and in the
world. And I believe I speak the
truth when I say that there has
never been a time in any conflict In
the history of the United States, as
demonstrated today in the two
houses of Congress, when there was
such unanimity of opinion and unity
of purpose and determination as we
have with us now in this conflict
between us and Japan, which has
been forced upon us so suddenly
and so Unexpectedly.
We have been, of course, engaged
in discussions during the last two
or three years concerning the policy
of the administration. There have
been Americans, sincere and honest
and patriotic, who have disagreed
with the foreign policy of this ad-
ministration with respect to some
phases of our dealings with the ma
tions across the ocean. But regard
less of whatever honest differences
there may have been heretofore
among American citizens with ref
erence to the policy of the adminis-
tration in dealing with foreign af-
fairs, I think I can say, and the rec
ord will prove it, that today, tonight
and until this thing has been fought
out, the American pople are united.
They are of one mind, of one heart
and of one purpose and that purpose
is to preserve democracy in America;
to preserve our institutions, to pre-
serve the Western Hemisphere from
domination or encirclement from
any source, regardless Of its origin,
and to make 1t impossible in the
future for any nation even to seek
to dominate mankind, as the effort
is being made today.
Not Afraid of War.
We used TO think that We were
/ safe in America because two oceans
surrounded us. but we have discov-
cred in recent years that wide
| oceans, deep oceans and high noun
( tains cannot any longer insulate us
/ against the electric currents that are
| flashing in the skies around the
world. Much as we hate war, much
as We despise it, much as We have
/ sought to avoid it, not only our
selves. but among the other nations
of the world, We are not afraid tc
accept it now any more than We
were afraid to accept it in 1776, 1912
1348, 1861 to 1865, 1898 and in 1917
we were not afraid, though We knew
that to fight and TO engage in wal
involved sacrifices that we woulc
otherwise avoid
Let us hope that out Of all tht
confusion and all the brutality ane
all the bloodshed and chaos that /!
now encircling the world there may
come stronger determination
among the people everywhere Il
preserve the gains in behalf of free
dom and democracy which hav,
been made in all the years of tn,
past, so that we may hand this Ma
ton and all nations down to futur,
generations freer and prouder ant
stronger.