Evening star., 1941-01-19
War Can Be Escaped
By Arming 10 Full,
Ambassador Says
Criticizes FotoIists,
Who Hold U. S. Will Enter
Conflict Eventually

Who Hold U. S. Will Enter
Conflict Eventually
BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK Jan. 1S.-The tert
OF Joseph p Kennedy's Radio
talk tonight tollo1DS:
Shortly after 1 came home from
London, I spoke over the radio for
the reelection of President Roose-
welt. I declared then that my sim
cere judgment was that we ought
to stay out of war-that we could
stay out of war. I urged that we
give England all possible aid. l
feel the same way about it today.
Since then there have appeared
many false statements regarding
my views on foreign policy. More
over. there is a growing confusion
and reliance upon emotion which
strikes me as altogether umeces-
sary and extremely harmful.
Tonight I hope to set forth as
clearly as possible my views on some
phases OF the great issue confront
ing the American people. 1t is my
earnest desire that I may be of
some assistance in helping my fellow
citizens to form clearer under
standing of the burning issue of
our foreign policy
The saddest feature Of recent
months is the growth of intolerance.
Honest mems motives are being at
tackled. Many Americans, including
myself. have been subjected to de-
liberate smear campaigns merely
because we differed from an ar
ticulate minority. A few ruthless
and irresponsible Washington col
umnlsts have claimed for themselves
the right to speak for the Nation.
The reputation of the American
press for fairness is being COM
promised by the tactics OF these
men.
Intolerance of Opinion
Presage of Dark Future.
This habit of smearing an op-
ponent because you disagree with
what he stands for is a distinct
menace TO our free institutions.
How can we maintain national
unity when the motives of patriotic
men are indiscrlminately assailed?
Intolerance breeds intolerance. and
the whole country suffers. No
matter who wins this war, America
faces most critical times. If at this
early date intolerance of contrary
opinions flourishes, our future is
dark indeed.
A favorite device Of an aggressive
minority is to call any American,
questioning the likelihood OF Brit
ish victory. an apostle Of gloom =
a defeatist. I always believed that
when the American people sent an
Ambassador to a foreign country
they expected him TO report the
facts to his Government as he saw
them, the bright side and the dark
side-the good things and the bad
things-the strength and the weak
nesses. I never thought that it was
my function to report pleasant
stories that were not true. Every
one will agree that had l, as your
Amba ssador, reported to our Gov
ernment anything but the truth as
I saw it. I would have been false
to my trust-I would have betrayed
my country.
When I reported to our Govern
ment the seriousness of the prob
lens that faced the British people,
! did it in considerable detail, and
purpoSely, because l wanted our
Government to have all the infor-
nation possible affecting the plight
of Great Britain so that this coun-
try in the days to come could guide
itself more intelligently in its for
elgn policy, regardless of what the
outcome of the war might be.
Has Not Predicted
Great Britain's Defeat.
AS support for the charge that I
am an apostle of gloom. it is said
that I have predicted the defeat of
Great Britain. That statement is
not true. I am aware of and have
reported on the serious obstacles to
British victory. I know many Of
BrltalnS weaknesses, but a prediC-
ton can be based only on a COM
plete knowledge of the strength and
weaknesses of both sides
There are many phenomena in
this war which defy exclamation
even by the most expert. If the
German air force can practically
destroy a city in one-night raid
as in Coventry, why is it that it has
failed to wipe out industrial Eng
land in a series of these raids? If.
as we know. England can live only
II her ports remain open. why has
not the German air force concen-
trated its efforts on closing these
ports by aerial bombardment? It
has made but few raids on Liverpool
and Bristol and those only recently.
what is the answer? I don't know.
Apparently no one does.
The morale of the British nation
def1es description. 1t is as fine a
olsplaE OF human courage as has
ever been witnessed. But what
do we know about the morale of
the German Army or of the Ger
man people? Have they this quail
ity OF toughness or are they brittle
after eight years of tyranny? These
are but a few of the unknown ele-
ments which may we'll determine
the final outcome Thus predic-
ton now of Englands defeat would
be senseless. One can recognize
the enormous difficulties facing
Britain without foreseeing its de-
feat.
Word of DictatOrs
Shown to Be Worthless.
Another label used as a smear
against certain citizens who favor