Show MW I a f w I y i sti rt 4 1 wr r 8 K F For two years from October in 1937 to September in 1911 President Roosevelt broadcast repeated warnings that America could not escape European internal troubles and pleaded through state notes to Hitler and Mussolini for a world peace conference The dictators scorned a direct reply Hitler right views a part of his mighty air armada in 1910 which was even then blasting Old World cities in his effort to conquer more land for the Reich Mussolini left assumes a characteristic pose as he lie addresses the Italian people on the eve of war The Chief Executive sent a message to all important powers In Europe on August 24 1939 A second urgent note was delivered to Hitler alone on the next day Exactly one week later war was declared The swastika mark of the Germans shown at the right of the picture floats over crushed Paris with the famed Eiffel tower in the background The French fought fiercely but accepted an armistice on June 22 1910 Since that date the war has spread almost entirely over the face of the globe even affecting the normal life of American citizens thus carrying out President Roose Roose- Roosevelt's Roosevelt's velt's prophecy in Chicago in 1937 that unless present European condi condi- conditions conditions were remedied America would eventually have to face the problems problems lems arising from acts of aggression It was later that I pointed out that the recent systematic violation of ot treaties the thc indiscriminate bomb bomb- bombing bombing bombing ing of ot civilians were wiping away the very landmarks of ol law order and an justice which had characterized our civilization I warned that if it those things come to pass in other parts of ot the world let no one imagine that America will escape that America may expect mercy that this Western hemisphere will not be attacked I called upon the peace-loving peace nations to make a con con- concerted concerted concerted effort in opposition to those violations of ot treaties and those ig- ig of t humane instincts which today are creating a state of ot inter inter- international international international national anarchy and instability No nation nUion can be safe sale in f Its Us will to peace s sp long as any other powerful power power- powerful powerful ful nation refuses to settle its grievances at the thc council table I Ith th therefore r fare urged again upon the con- con gloss gless oss the necessity of ot increased na- na national national defense to protect ourselves against attack and other forms of ot aggression Offer Americas America's Services During 1939 on April 14 on behalf of ot the American people I again sent messages messages to Hitler and Mussolini suggesting another approach to the solution of the problem of ot avoiding war and preserving the press As the head of ol a nation far lar removed from I offered to serve as asa asa asa a friendly intermediary I asked for assurances from Hitler and Mus Mus- Mussolini Mussolini however that their armed forces would not attack or invade any of ot the independent nations of Europe or the Near East for lor a period of 10 years I 1 stated that I was reasonably sure that if it such assurances were given each of ot the theother theother theother other nations would give similar reciprocal assurances I suggested that a peaceful discussion follow this exchange of ot guarantees in which the government of ot the United States would be willing to take part with with two essential objectives in mind first reduction of ot arma arma- armaments armaments armaments ments sec md opening up avenues of ot international trade At the same time governments other governments other than the United States States directly directly interested interest Interest- ed in territorial and political problems problems problems lems could undertake to discuss those problems in this peaceful at at- In other words to use a colloquial expression what I 1 was suggesting was a peace conference with every every- everybody's everybody's everybody's body's gun parked outside the conference room doors I 1 received no direct answer to this suggestion for lor world peace from either cither Hitler HiUer or Mussolini A few days before belore on leaving Warm Springs Ga after alter a short vacation I said I I have had a afine afine afine fine holiday with you yu all Ill I'll be beback beback beback back in the fall lall if it we do not have a war This remark was again at at- attacked attacked attacked tacked by many newspapers and politicians as war mongering I proposed that the community of ot nations throughout the world act the same as communities do when an epidemic of physical disease starts spread namely join in a quarine quarIne ine mc in order to protect the tic e community against the spread ae ie disease During 1938 there came the Czechoslovakian crisis On September Sep Sep- September September 26 and September 27 1938 I 1 sent messages to Hitler and to the heads of ot the Czechoslovakian British and French governments seeking a peaceful solution of ot that threat of war The particular crisis was averted but as I stated at atthe atthe atthe the time it was is becoming in In- increasingly Increasingly increasingly clear that peace by fear lear had has no higher or more en en- enduring enduring enduring during quality than peace by the sword Conditions Grow Worse Three months later at Lima Peru the 21 American republics including our own agreed to stand together to defend the independence of ot each one of ot us in the Western hemisphere That declaration at Lima was was was' a further lurther step toward continued peace and common defense de de- defense de- de defense in this hemisphere but it did not have any effect on matters in Europe In 1939 international af at- affairs affairs fairs in Europe grew steadily worse That T at is T s irv Tf the congress to repeal the arms embargo provisions of ot the neutrality law For such a repeal would in effect say to the aggressor sor nations that if it they did declare war they would find that their enemies ene ene- enemies enemies mies would be able to obtain the needed war supplies here in Amer Amer- ica I knew that the sale of ot arms armsby armsby armsby by the United States could and would help the weaker nations re re- resist resist re- re resist attack from those nations which had built up these vast offensive striking The Arms Embargo Congress was ready to adjourn in July 1939 without passing the repeal of ot the e arms embargo We were convinced that the arms em em- embargo embargo embargo bargo was actually having the ef ef- effect effect ef- ef effect of ot hastening the war in Europe by the encouragement which it gave to the aggressor a nations I there there- therefore therefore therefore fore called a conference at the White House of ot the Republican and Democratic leaders of the congress to urge upon them further the necessity of the legislation and to canvass the situation so as to learn whether such congressional action were possible At that conference I pointed out hov how the arms embargo was encouraging the outbreak of ot a general war how it operated in favor lavor of ot the aggressor nations of ot Ger Ger- Germany Germany Germany many and Italy and how thoroughly it weakened the position and pres pres- prestige prestige prestige tige pf the United States as a motivating moti moti- motivating motivating factor for peace For we were hardly in a position to urge the aggressor nations to desist from attack if it we could not under any circumstances sell merchandise merchandise dise disc to the threatened democracies I of Europe GOP Attitude It appeared clear at this confer confer- conference conference ence however and was so stated by by the congressional leaders that practically all of ot the Republican members of ol the congress would vote against repeal and that about 25 per cent of ot the thc Democratic mem mem- members members members bers would This opposition was based on the belief beliet that there would be no war in Europe before the fol lol- following fol- fol following lowing January when the Ute congress would again assemble In regular session and that therefore there was no need for immediate legisla legisla- tion Of course it was useless to insist upon the legislation under those circumstances It should be borne in mind however that the responsibility responsibility responsibility for tor this action properly lies with those who refused to repeal the arms embargo in July of ot 1939 I Imade Imade Imade made it clear to them at the con con- conference conference conference ference that the opponents would have to take the sole responsibility for the Ule results of ot their opposition And forthcoming events proved that early legislative action In hi this matter mat mat- matter matter ter would have been extremely help help- helpful ful f iii in lh ihn cause |