Evening star., 1941-01-06

to our friends who by their de-
termined and heroic resistance
are giving us time in which to
make ready our own defense.
For what we send abroad, we
shall be repaid, within a reason
able time following the close Of
hostilitieS, in similar materials,
or, at our option, in other goods
of many kinds which they can
produce and which we need.
United States Purpose and Pledge
To the DemOcracies.
Let us say to the democracies:
1--WE Americans are vitally con-
cerned in your defense of freedom.
We are putting forth our energies,
our resources and our organizing
powers to give you the strength to
regain and maintain a free world.
We shall send you, in ever
increasing numbers, ships, planes.
tanks, guns. This is our purpose
and our pledge"
In fulfillment of this purpose
We will not be intimidated by the
threats of dictators that they will
regard as a breach of interna-
tional law and as an act of war
our aid to the democracies which
dare to resist their aggression.
Such aid is not an act of
war, even if a dictator should
unilaterally proclaim it so to be-
When the dictators are ready
to make war upon us, they will
not wait for an act of war on our
part. They did not wait for Nor
way or Belgium or the Neither
lands to commit an act of war.
Their only interest is in a new
one-Way international law, which
lacks mutually in its observ-
ance, and, therefore, becomes an
instrument of oppression.
The happiness of future gen.
erations of Americans may we'll
depend upon how effective and
how immediate we can make our
aid felt. No one can tell the
exact character of the emer-
gency situations that we may be
called upon to meet. The Ma
tion's hands must not be tied
when the Nations life is in dan
ger.
We must all prepare to make
the sacrifices that the emer-
gency-as serious as war itself
demands. Whatever stands in
the way Of speed and efficiency in
defense preparations must give
way to the national need.
A free nation has the right to
expect full cooperation from all
groups. A free nation has the
right to look to the leaders of
business, of labor and of agricul-
ture to take the lead in stimulat-
ing effort. not among other
groups but within their own
groups.
The best way of dealing with
the few slackers or trouble
makers in our midst is, first, to
shame them by patriotic example,
and, if that fails, to use the
sovereignty of government to save
government.
Men Do Not Fight
BY Armaments Alone.
AS men do not live by bread
alone. they do not fight by arma-
ments alone. Those who man
our defenseS, and those behind
them who build our defenSes,
must have the stamina and cou-
rage which comes from an un-
Shakeable belief in the manner
of life which they are defending.
The mighty action which we are
calling for cannot be based on a
disregard of all things worth
fighting for.
The Nation takes great salts
faction and much strength from
the things which have been done
to make its people conscious of
their individual stake in the pres
ervation of democratic life in
America. Those things have
toughened the fiber of our people.
have renewed their faith and
strengthened their devotion to the
institutions we make ready to
protect
Certainly this is no time to
stop thinking about the social
and economic problems which are
the root cause of the social revo-
luton which is today a supreme
factor in the world.
There is nothing mysterious
about the foundations of
healthy and strong democracy.
The basic things expected by
our people of their political and
economic systems are simple.
They are:
Equality of opportunity for
youth and for others.
Jobs for those who can work.
Security for those who need it.
The ending of special privilege
for the few.
The preservation of civil liber-
ties for all.
The enjoyment of the fruits of
scientific progress in wider and
constantly rising standard of
living
These are the simple and basic
things that must never be lost
sight of in the turmoil and I'M
believable complexity of our mod
ern world. The inner and abid-
ing strength of our economic and
political systems is dependent
upon the degree to which they
fulfill these expectations.
Many subjects connected with
our social economy call for i'm
mediate improvement.
AS examples:
We should bring more citizens
under the coverage of old-age
pensions and unemployment in
Surance.
We should widen the opportu-
mites for adequate medical care.
We should plan a better system
by which persons deserving or
needing gainful employment may
obtain it.
I have called for personal sac
riflce. 1 am assured of the will
ingneSs of almost all Americans to
respond to that call.
Sacrifices Will IncIude