Evening star., 1941-06-20
Robin Moor Sinking Piracy Act,
President Asserts in Message;
u. S. Demands Nozi DAMAGES
Roosevelt Accuses
Germans of Attempt
To Friehten America
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

President Roosevelt today ac-
eused the German government
of piracy in the sinking of the
Robin Moor, and demanded full
reparation for the losses and
damages suffered by American
nationals.
The Chief Executives charge
was made in a bitterly worded
special message to Congress on
the Robin Moor incident, assert
ing that the sinking was part OF
a considered policy of attempting
to frighten American shipping
from the seven seas.
"We are not yielding and we do
not propose to yield" Mr.. Roosevelt
declared, in answer 10 an action
which he branded one OF "an inter
national outlaw
His message served notice that this
Government will hold that Of the
Reich responsible for the out
rageous and indefensible" sinking
of the American vessel.
The government of the German
Reich" Mr.. Roosevelt declared,
"may be assured that the United
States will neither be lntimidated
nor will it acquiesce in the plans for
world domination which the present
leaders of Germany may have"
No Steps Specified.
The President did not at any point
In his report specify what steps
might be taken in retaliation or in
protection of American shipping.
The message, prepared by the
President this morning in close con-
sultation with Secretary of State
Hull and Undersecretary Welles,
was a completely unqualified find
ing that a German submarine was
responsible for the sinking of the
Robin Moor on May 2l and that the
entire incident was one in total dis
regard for the principles of inter-
national law and of humanity.
Full reparation for the losses
and damages suffered by American
nationals will be expected from the
German government" Mr.. Roosevelt
said.
Manner of Sinking Attacked.
Specifically, the President took
blunt issue even with the very
fashion in which the German sub
marine commander had carried out
his action, accusing the raider of
neither displaying its flag, announc-
ing its nationality, nor making pro-
vision for safety of the passengers
and crew.
The Presidents statements on the
Robin Moor case, being made in
message to Congress, could be
couched in stronger language than
that of formal diplomatic note.
The sinking of this American ship
uN 1tI INl
Roosevelt asserted, "fagrantly vio-
lated the right of United States YES
GELS freely to navigate the seas sub
ject only to belligerent right ac-
cepted under international law. This
belligerent right, as is known to the
German government, does not in
clude the right deliberately to sink
areI, n1 1aor AA
sengers and crew to the mercieS Of
the elements
The incident in itself, Mr.. Roose-
Velt went on, must be considered of
utmost seriousness as a reflection of
the declared and actively pursued
policy of frightfulness and intimida-
ton which has been used by the
German Reich as an instrument of
international policy"
Intimidation Plan Assumed.
Present leaders of the Berlin gov
ernment. Mr.. Roosevelt went on,
have applied this policy of cruelty
and terrorism in the apparent belief
that such methods will lead to a
state of affairs permitting the Ger
man Reich to exact acquiescence
from the nations victimiZed
This Government can only as
sumo that the government of the
German Reich hopes through the
commission of such infamous acts
of cruelty to helpless and innocent
men, women and children to intimi-
date the United States and other
nations into course of nom
resistance to German plans for uni
versal conquest-a conquest based
upon lawlessness and terror on land
and piracy on the sea"
This Government is warranted,
the President then added, in consid-
ering whether the Robin Moor sink
r6a0c-rnIrI.,I q, . \