Evening star., 1941-09-12

wait until he has struck before
you crush him.
These NaZi submarines and
raiders are the rattlesnakes of
the Atlantic. They are a menace
to the free pathways of the high
seas. They are a challenge to
our sovereignty. They hammer
at our most precious rights when
they attack ships of the American
f1ag-symbols of our independ-
ence, our freedom. our very life.
1t is clear to all Americans
that the time has come when
the Americas themselves must
now be defended A continuation
of the attacks in our own wa
terS, or in waters which could be
used for a further and greater
attack on us, will inevitably
weaken American ability to repel
Hitlerism.
Do not let us split hairs. Let
us not ask ourselves whether the
Americas should begin to defend
themselves after the fifth attack,
or the tenth attack, or the twelfth
attack.
The time for defense is now.
U. s. Will Strike at Axis
Subs and Raiders First.
Do not let us split hairs. Let
us not say-"We will only de-
fend ourselves if the torpedo
succeeds in getting home, or if
the crew and the passengers are
drowned"
This is the time for prevention
of attack.
If submarines or raiders attack
in distant waters. they can attack
equally well within sight of our
own shores. Their very presence
in any waters which America
deems vital to its defense con-
StituteS an attack.
In the waters which we deem
necessary for our defense, Ameri-
can naval vessels and American
planes will no longer wait until
Axis submarines lurking under
the water, or Axis raiders on the
surface of the sea, strike their
deadly blow-first.
Upon our naval and air patrol
now operating in large num-
Der over vast eXpanSe of the
Atlantic Ocean-fallS the duty
of maintaining the American
policy of freedom of the seas
now. That means, very simply
and clearly, that our patrolling
vessels and planes will protect
all merchant ships-not only
American ships but ships of any
fiag-engaged in commerce in
our defensive waters. They will
protect them from submarines;
they will protect them from sur
face raiders.
Axis Ships Enter
L. S. Waters at Their Peril.
This situation is not new. The
second President of the United
States, John Adams, ordered the
United States Navy to clean QUO
European priVateers and Euro
pean ships of war which were
infeSting the Caribbean and
South American waters, Destroy
ing American commerce.
The third President of the
United States, Thomas jefferson,
ordered the United States Navy
TO end the attacks being made
upon American ships by the
corsairs of the nations Of North
Africa.
My obligation as President is
historic; it is clear; it is in
escapable.
1t is no act of war on our part
when we decide to protect the
seas which are vital to American
defense. The aggression is not
ours. Ours is solely defense.
But let this warning be clear.
From now on, if German or Ital-
ian vessels of war enter the
waters, the protection of which
is necessary for American de-
fense, they do so at their own
peril.
The orders which I have given
as Commander in Chief to the
United States Army and Navy
are to carry out that policy-at
once.
No Shooting Unless
Germany Continues to Seek It.
The sole responsibility rests up
on Germany. There will be no
shooting unless Germany contin-
ueS to seek it.
That is my obvious duty in this