Evening star., 1942-02-24
Roosevelt
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In the agreement, with final ap-
praisal of their value to be made
at the conclusion of the conflict.
The agreement, actually signed
yesterday by Acting Secretary of
State Welles and British Ambassa-
dor Halifax, was announced Simul-
today in Washington and
London.
Its disclosure followed resound-
ingly determined and substantially
optimistic radio address by President
Roosevelt to the world last night.
1t was an address reiterating with
out qualification or modification the
intent of this Nation to serve as the
arsenal of democracy, and to de-
liver its assistance over long and
supply lines to every one
of the armies allied with us-"the
policy of carrying the war to the
enemy in distant lands and distant
waters, as far as possible from our
own home grounds"
I'VE can and will do that job"
Mr.. Roosevelt asserted, over four
main lines of communication-the
North Atlantic. the South Atlantic,
the Indian Ocean and the South
Pacif1c-with their protection main
tained by air and naval strength
and the control strategic bases
along the routes.
AS working example of the
functioning of this supply program,
the President revealed that .a~large
numbers of bombers and pursuit
planes, manned by American pilots,
already are in daily contact with
the enemy in the Southwest Pacific
and that thousands of American
troops are today in that area en-
gagged in operations not only in
the air but on the ground as we'll"
A reading of q Pacific Ocean
map also illustrates the working
of the formula of controlling
strategic bases along the major sup
ply lines, with Hawaii, Palmyra,
Samoa and Fiji Islands all Sc
curely held by the United Nations
on the San Francisco to Sydney
route. 1t reveals, too, a motive in
the recent successful attack upon
the Japanese-held Gilbert and
Marshall Islands-bases from which
enemy raiders might have inter-
cepted supply conveys between the
United States and the Southwest
Pacific.
Declaring that I'VE are taking
heavy toll of the enemy every day
that goes by" the Chief Executive
suggestions that our
ships and planes be withdrawn for
last ditch defense" tactics,
strategy which he said would play
directly into the Axis plans for
dividing and conquiering the United
Nations.
Sketches Danger IN Policy.
BY such self-imposed isolation,
he continued scornfully and warn
ingly, the following disastrous con-
/. I'VE could no longer send aid
of any kind to Climate the brave
people who destroyed hun
dreds of thousands of Japanese
soldiers and vast quantities of jap
anese war munitions. 1t is essential
that we help China in her magin-
cent defense and in her inevitable
counteroffensive.
2. IF we lost communication with
the Southwest Pacific. all of that
area, including Australia and New
Zealand, would fall under jap
anese domination. Japan could
then launch attacks on
large scale against the coasts of the
Western Hemisphere, including
Alaska. At the same time, she
could Immediately extend her con-
quests to India. and through the
Indian Ocean, to Africa and the
Near East.
3. "If we are to stop sending
to the British and the
Russians in the Mediterranean and
Persian Gulf areas, we would help
the Nazis to overrun Turkey, Syria,
Iraq, Persia, Egypt and the Suez
Canal, the whole coast of North
Africa and the whole coast of West
Africa putting Germany within
easy striking distance of South
America.
4. eff, by such a fatuous policy,
we ceased to protect the North
Atlantic supply line to Britain and
to Russia, we would help to cripple
the splendid counter offensive by
Russia against the Nazis and we
would deprive Britain of essential
food supplies and munitions"
Production Is Special Task.
For America, he emphasized, "our
special task is one of production
a production that is still far from
its maximum as compared with a
peak that has become very close for
Germany, Italy and Japan.
It was in this connection that Mr..
Roosevelt renewed his pledge of
our fulfillment of this obligation,
making the cheering announcement
that a survey of the fantastic
goals set by him on January
already are certain of attainment.
.lIn his annual message to
the Congress, the President set
1873 goal of 185,000 airplanes,
10000 tanks, $1,000 anu-aircraft
guns, and $4,000, 900 deadweight
tons Of merchant shipping9
Commanding the cooperative e.