Evening star., 1943-12-24
Text of Presidents Address on War Strategy
Decisions Reached Allied Leaders Conference Cairo
Revealed in Broadcast From Hyde Park Worldwide Audience
HYDE PARK, N. Y, Dec. "a

| /
Il Revealed in Broo
HYDE PARK, N. Y, Dec. a.
President Roosepelt's address tol-
! lODS..
I have just returned from extern
sive journeyings In the region OF
the Mediterranean and as far as
the borders of Russia. I have con-
ferred with the leaders of Britain
and Russia and China on military
matters of the especially
on plans for stepping up our sue
cessful attack on our enemies as
quickly as possible and from many
different points Of the compass.
On this Christmas eve there are
over 10,000,0 900 men in the armed
forces Of the United States alone
One year ago 1,700, 900 were serving
overseas. Today this figure has
been more than doubled to $500, ,00C
on duty overseas. BY next July
that number will rise to owe,
5000 900.
That this is truly a world wal
was demonstrated when arrange.
ments were made with our overseas
broadcasting agencies for time tt
speak today to our soldiers, sailors
marines and merchant seamen ir
every part Of the world. In fixing
the time for the broadcast we tool
into consideration that at this mo-
ment here in the United States, anc
in the Caribbean and on the north.
east coast Of South America it Is
afternoon. In Alaska and in Hawai-
and the mid-Pacific, 1t is still morn.
ing. In Iceland, in Great Britain
in North Africa, in Italy and the
Middle East it is now evening.
In the Southwest Pacific, in Aus
tralia, in China and Burma anc
India, it is already Christmas Day
We can correctly say that at thi.
moment, in those far eastern part:
where Americans are fighting, today
is tomorrow.
But everywhere throughout tht
world-throughout this war which
covers the world-there is a specia
spirit which has warmed our heart.
since our earliest childhood-a spirit
which brings us close to our homes
our families, our friends and neigh
bors-the Christmas spirit of peace
on earth, good will toward men"
During the past years of inter.
national gangsterism and brutal ag.
gression in Europe and in Asia, oul
Christmas celebrations have beer
darkened with apprehension for the
future.s We have said, Merry
Christnlas-Happy New Year." but
We have known in our hearts thai
the clouds which have hung ovel
our world have prevented us from
saying it with full sincerity anc
conviction.
And even this year, we still have
much to face in the way of further
suffering, and sacrifice, and persona
tragedy. Our men, who have beer
through the fierce battles in the
Solomons, the Gilberts, Tunisia anc
Italy know, from their experience
and knowledge of modern war, tha,
many bigger and costlier battles are
still to be fought.
Great Beginning Was Made
At Moscow Conference.
But-on Christmas eve this year
can say to you that at last we may
look forward into the future with
real, substantial confidence that
however great the cost, peace or
earth, good will toward men" car
be and will be realized and ensured
This year can say that. Las
year I could not do more than ex.
press hope. Today 1 express 6
certainty-though the cost may b,
high and the time may be long.
/ Within the past year-within tn.
past few weeks-history has beer
made. and 1t is far better history
for the whole human race than any
that we have known, or even daree
to hope for, in these tragic times
through which we pass.
A great beginning was made II
the Moscow conference in October
by Mr.. Molotov, Mr.. Eden and oul
own Mr.. Hull There and then tn,
way was paved for the later meet.
ings.
I At Cairo and Teheran we devoted
ourselves not only to military mat
tiers, We devoted ourselves also II
consideration of the future-t,
plans for the kind of world which
alone can justify all the sacrifice
of this war.
OF course, as you all know, MI
Churchill and 1 have happily me
many times before, and we know
and understand each other yer,
we'll. Indeed, Mr.. Churchill has be
come known and beloved by man,
millions of Americans, and tn
heartfelt prayers of all of us hav
been with this great citizen of tn
world in his recent serious illness.
The Cairo and Teheran confer
ences, however, gave me my first op
portunity to meet the GeneralissimC
Chang Kai-Shek, and Marshal Sta
Inland to sit down at the tabl
with these unconquerable men ant
talk with them face to face. We ha,
planned to talk to each other acros
the table at Cairo and Teheran, bu
we soon found that we were all OF
the same side of the table. We cam
to the conferences with faith in eacl
other. But We needed the persona
contact. And now We have supple
mented faith with definite knowl
edge.
1t was well worth travelling thou
sands of miles over land and sea t,
bring about this personal meeting
{, and to gain the heartening assur
ance that we are absolutely agreet
with one another on all the majo
objectives and on the military mean
of obtaining them.
Definite Military Strategy
Decided on at Cairo.
At Cairo, Prime Minister Churchill
and spent four days with the Gen
eralissimo, Chang Kai-shek. It wa
the first time that we had had al
| ~ 10,