Evening star., 1944-10-22

pictured as he toured New
despite the rain.
The Republicans opposed these
agreements-and tried to stop
the extension of the law every
three years.
Cites World Court Vote.
In 1885 I asked the Congress to
join the World Court. The Demo-
Gratis in the Senate voted for it,
43 to 20. The Republicans voted
against it, IA to 8. Thus we were
prevented from obtaining the
necessary two-thirds majority.
In 1887 asked that aggressor
nations be quarantined-and for
this I was branded by isolation
lists in and out of public life as
an "alarmist" and war-monger."
From that time on, as you we'll
know, I made clear by repeated
messages to the American Con-
gress and by repeated statements
to the American people the dan
ger threatening from abroad
and the need of rearming to
meet it.
In July, 1899, 1 tried to obtain
a repeal of the arms embargo
provisions in the neutrality law
which tied our hands against
selling arms to. the European
democracies for defense against
Hitler. SD.
The late Senator Borah told
a group, which I called together
in the White House, that his own
private information from abroad
was better than that of the State
Department and that there
would be no war in Europe.
And it was made plain to Mr..
Hull and me that, because of
the isolationist vote, We could
not possibly hope to attain the
desired revision of the neutrality
law.
Second World War Begins.
This fact also was made plain
to Adolf Hitler. A few weeks
later he brutally attacked Po-
land-and the Second World War
had begun.
On 1941, this administration
proposed and the Congress
passed, in spite of isolationist
opposition, the Lease-Lend Law
"a practical and dramatic notice
to the world that we intended
to help those nations resisting
aggression.
These days-and I am now
speaking of October, 1944-I hear
voices on the air attacking me
for my failure" to prepare this
Nation for this war and to warn
the American people of the ap-
preaching tragedy.
These same voices were not so
very audible five years ago-or
even four years ago-giving
warning of the grave peril which
We then faced.
There have been, and there
still are, in the Republican party
distinguished men and women of
vision and courage, both in and
out of public Office, who have
vigorously supported our aid to
our Allies and all the measures
that we took to build up our
national defense. And many of
these Republicans have rendered
magnificent services to our
country in this war as members
of this administration.
I am happy that one of these
distinguished Americans Is our
great Secretary of War-Henry
Stimson.
Recalls Stimson's Stand.
Let us remember that this very
war might have been averted if
Mr.. Stimson's views had pre-
vailed when, in 1881, the Jap
anese ruthlessly attacked Man.
churia.
The majority of the Republi-
can members of the Congress
voted against the selective service
law in 1910, they voted against
the lease-lend law in 1941 and
they voted in August, l941,
against extension of selective
service - which meant voting
against keeping our Army to-
gether - four months before
Pearl Harbor.
I am quoting history to. you.
I am going by the record. And
I am giving you the whole story
and not merely a phrase here and
half a phrase there picked out of
context in such a way that dis
tort the facts.
I happen to believe that, even
in political campaign. we
should all obey that ancient in
junction-thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neigh
Dor.
The question of the men who
will formulate and carry out the
foreign policy of this country is
in issue in this election-very
much in issue. 1t is in issue not
in terms Of partisan application,
but in terms Of sober, solemn
facts-the facts that are on the
record.
Warns Of COP IsoIationists.
If the Republicans were to win
control of the Congress in this
election, inveterate isolationists
would occupy positions Of COM
manding influence and power.