Evening star., 1943-12-24
orld-Wide Audience


militarists would ever attempt to
dominate any nation outside of
Central Europe.
After the armistice in 1918. we
thought and hoped that the mill
taristic philosophy OF Germany had
been crushed; and being full of the
milk Of human kindness we spent
the next Is years disarming, while
the Germans whined so pathetically
that the other nations permitted
them-and even helped them-to
rearm.
Well Intentioned Experiments
OF Former Years Did Not Work.
For too many years we lived on
pious hopes that aggressor and war
like nations would learn and un-
derstand and carry out the doctrine
of purely voluntary peace.
The well-intentioned but lil-fated
experiments Of former years did not
work. 1t is my hope that we will
not try them again. No-that is too
weak-it is my intention to do all
that I humanity can as President
and Commander in Chief to see to
it that these tragic mistakes shall
not be made again.
There have always been cheerful
idiots In this country who believed
that there would be no more war
for us, If everybody in America
would only return into their homes
and lock their front doors behind
them. Assuming that their mo-
tives were Of the highest. events
have shown how unwilling they were
to face the facts.
The overwhelming majority OF all
the people in the world want peace.
Most of them are fighting for the
attainment OF peace-not just a
truce, not just an armistice, but
peace that is as strongly enforced
and as durable as mortal man can
make it. If we are willing to fight
for peace now, is it not good logic
that we should use force if neces-
sary, in the future, to keep the
peace?
1 believe, and I think I can say.
that the other three great nations
who are fighting SO magnificently to
gain peace are in complete agree
ment that we must be prepared to
keep the peace by force. If the peo-
pie Of Germany and Japan are made
to realize thoroughly that the world
Is not going to let them break out
again, it is possible. and, I hope,
probable, that they will abandon the
philosophy of aggression-the belief
that they can gain the whole world
even at the risk of losing their own
souls.
shall have more to say about
the Cairo and Teheran conferences
when make my report to the Con-
gress in about two weeks time. And,
on that occasion, I shall also have
great deal to say about certain
conditions here at home.
But today wish to say that in all
my travels, at home and abroad, it
is the sight OF our soldiers and
sailors and their magnificent
achievements which have given me
the greatest inspiration and the
greatest encouragement for the
future.
To the members of our armed
forces, to their wives, mothers and
fathers, I want to affirm the great
faith and confidence we have in
Gen. Marshall and Admiral King
who direct all of our armed might
throughout the world Upon them
falls the great responsibility of plan
ming the strategy of determining
when and where we shall fight
Both of these men have already
gained high places in American his
tory. which will record many evil
dences Of their military genius that
cannot be published today.
| Some of our men overseas are
now spending their third Christmas
far from home. To them and to all
others overseas or soon to go over
seas, l can give assurance that ii
Is the purpose of their Government
to win this war and to bring them
home at the earliest possible date.
And we here in the United State.
had better be sure that when oul
soldiers and sailors do come hom,
they will find an America in which
they are given full opportunities fol
education, rehabilitation, social Sc
curlty, employment and busines
enterprise under the free America,
syStem-and' that they will find 4,
Government which, by their vote
as American citizens, they have hat
a full share in electing.
Realists Testify to Strength
And Skill Of Enemies.
The American people have ha,
every reason to know that this is ,
tough, destructive war. On nv tri,
abroad talked with many militar,
men who had faced our enemies i,
the field. These ard-headed realist
testify to the strength and skill an,
resourcefulness of the enemy gen
erals and men whom We must bea
oeIore final victory is won. The wa
is now reaching the stage where w
shall have to look forward to larp,
casualty lists-dead, wounded am
missing.
War entails just that. There 1
no easy road to victory. And tn,
end is not yet in sight.
l have been back only for a week
1t is fair that should tell YOU m,
impression. think I see a tendenc,
IN some of our people here to as.
sumo quick ending of the war
that we have already gained the vic.
tory. And, perhaps as a result O
this false reasoning, I think l dis.
Germ an effort to resume or even en-.
courage an outbreak of partisan
thinking and talking. I hope I an
wrong. For, surely. our first anc
foremost tasks are all concerned
with winning the war and winnins
just peace that will last for gen.
erations.
The massive offensives which are
in the making-both in Europe anc
the Far East-will require ever,
ounce of energy and fortitude tina,
we and our Allies can summon or