Evening star., 1941-09-12

Minister was asleep when the Pres
ident spoke.
The London Daily Express said
the Presidents pledge to protect
ships of any nationality engaged in
commerce in American defense wa
ters was "an immense step in the
business Of getting American arms
to these shores"
The paper said the Germans un-
doubtedly would reply by charging
Mr. Roosevelt with all the crimes
in the calendar but they will
not deter him from his purpose
which is now clearly revealed as
full support by the American feet
of the British Navy. an invincible
protection of the sea route between
the United States of America and
Britain. The President has
spoken. We await Hitler's reply.
The Daily Sketch said the Presi-
dent minced no words" in the
strongest and most important state
pronouncement made by America in
this war"
Victory Seen Closer.
Authoritative sources in the Meth.
erlands Indies said the broadcast
brought an Allied victory closer anC
they looked to the United States tt
oppose Axis shipping raids in tht
Pacific as we'll as Atlantic.
The Madrid newspaper ABC. first
in Spain to comment on the speech
said, the President abandons the
last fictions of neutrality" and Ger
many cannot permit" maintenance
of the Iceland route 1t predicted
new serious complications"
1T is not possible both to enjoy
the advantages of a neutral country
and carry out a policy which
scarcely differs from the attitude o.
belligerent," ABC said.
John Curtin, Australian Labor
Party leader. said at Canberra that
President Roosevelt's broadcast
must bring home to the United
States her own obligations which, in
a great respect. are more than those
of any other part of the democratic
world"
The Free French radio station in
French Equatorial Africa said Mr.
Roosevelt had thus thrown down
the gantlet and it is now up to
Germany to decide whether 1t wants
war with the United States or not. -
United States Seen Closer to War.
In the Western Hemisphere
Canada's first reaction was that the
United States moved closed through
the speech to participation in the
shooting war.
Canadian newspaper which have
warned their readers that the Presi-
dent alone cannot pledge the United
States to war, drew attention to his
statement that I'VE have sought no
shooting war with Hitler. We do
not seek it now"
On the other hand the Canadians
regarded his assertion that I'VE
shall continue to roll out the imple-
ments of war to help destroy him
and all his works" as an unmistak-
able reiteration of the President S
crush Hitler" policy.
In Cuba, where many residents
heard Spanish and English versions
Of the broadcast over local stations
there was no official comment. but
some Cubans hailed the speech as
decisive and necessary step In
the defense of democracy.
Step Toward "Militancy.'
The newspaper Ell Mundo at
Buenos Aires called the broadcast
"the first step toward militancy'
and said it indicates drastic pro-
cedure" on the part of the United
States to secure safe lanes for At
lantic shipping.
Brazilian newspapers gave the
Roosevelt speech top position on
page one. impartial said: President
Vargas already has proclaimed
Brazil in a state Of armed vigilance.
Now, when the United States mi
tiates active defense, all American
peoples will coordinate themselves
with this armed vigilance"
The Jornal said Mr.. Roosevelt s
speech was "the decision of Amer
lea" and other American nations
are disposed to give their contribu-
ton"