Evening star., 1943-10-31
Reveals Vast
Problems

- - ~ ~ A~AAAO
and maintained by Americans, used
against them 100 years from now. 1t
should be possible to work out some
which will give us per-
such protection as these bases
may afford.
There are many other important spots
and developed with American money
and sweat, which will become increas-
ingly important to the defense of the
United States with the rapid improve
ment of air and sea transportation. The
smaller the world becomes, the closer
are these bases to our shores.
I invite the attention of the Senats
to the Importance of some arrange
ment with the Government of Ice
land in the postwar period which will
permit us to use the very expensive
facilities we have constructed on that
island. A glance at the map will
show that heavy bombers and SUBJ
marines based on Iceland can close
all of the shipping lanes of the North
Atlantic. In any future war, con-
troll of Iceland means control of the
North Atlantic Ocean.
We are now in Iceland at the invita-
ton OF the Icelandic government issued
before Pearl Harbor. Our British Allies,
appreciating the significance and i'm
portance of Iceland, had moved in
some time before. 1t was a very
fortunate thing that they did. because
If Germany had beaten the British to
Iceland it could have prolonged this
war by years, and undoubtedly would
have enormously increased the losses
OF the Allied Nations. Iceland, with
10000 square miles, manifestly CAM
not defend itself against aggression.
A strong enemy in Iceland would ever
be great menace to the security OF
the United States. We should en-
deavor to protect the millions of dollars
and the tremendous effort that we have
spent to secure our northern flank and
sea lanes in this war by building fields
and bases in Iceland. If in the future
we should have another war 1t would
cost the lives of many American BOYS
and the expenditure of even greater
sums to restore our present position.
Dakar Must Be Watched.
Dakar, on the west coast of Africa,
occupies the same position in relation
to the South Atlantic that Iceland
does to the North Atlantic AS a mat
ter of self-defense we should see to 1t
either that we have some rights in
Dakar or that it does not fall into un-
friendly hands. or is not committed to
the custody of those who are unable
to defend this vital base which can
dominate the South Atlantic and
threaten all South America.
In the Pacific our boys are already
fighting and dying over and around
the islands that were inundated to
Japan after the last World War Much
more precious blood will be shed before
the Japs are finally rooted out. Ger
talnly as result of the sacrifices Of
these men, and to prevent the further
killing of the boys of the second or
third generation moving back into
these islands in some future war, We
should have some definite policy with
respect to the future status of these
islands that will assure the defense Of
the United States, as we'll as contribute
to the peace of the world. We have
rights in these islands that are being
purchased today with the blood OF
American boys.
I spent several days on the island
of New Caledonia, one of the western
most of the Pacific islands. This is
French possession. In order to assure
an open sea route to Australia and the
bases of operations against the Japs
in the islands of the Pacific, we have
spent many million dollars fortifying
this island. 1t has a fine, natural,
land-locked harbor. We have built
wharves and docks, seaplane bases, air.
fields and roads, barracks and hos
pitfalls, and placed heavy defense ar
tillery to beat off the strongest Japa-
nese attack. We have in operation at
our bases there some of the finest re-
pair and machine shops that I saw
anywhere in the world. In brief, New
Caledonia has been transformed by
American dollars and American sweat
and sacrifice into an all but an i'm
pregnable fortress. So long as 1t Is
in friendly hands and we have any
considerable naval and air power, no
enemy from the west can with safety
attack either North or South America
without first re6pcipp II
A Realistic Step
In the past We have heard great deal
about the fortification of Guam. I do
not know what future plans or program
for the fortification of Guam the Amer
ican Congress will be compelled to pass
upon, but believe that if we could OBJ
tain rights in New Caledonia and utilize
the Notifications and facilities already
existing it would save much of the ex-
pense of fortifying Guam. 1t seems to
me that negotiations should be entered
into at the earliest possible date looking
to the acquisition, by fair and Just ar
rangements, either of title to all of New
Caledonia or perpetual rights in and to
the bases and facilities we have con-
structed. I know that there are those
who will hurl the charge of imperialism
at such suggestions and claim that they
are in derogation to the terms of the
Atlantic Charter. I do not think that
there is anything imperialistic about it.
Call it what you will, it is a realistic
step to prevent another generation OF
Americans, who will undoubtedly still be
paving for the present war from heinp