STAB IN BACK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 209, 12 June 1940, Page 3

STAB IN BACK

ITALY’S ACTION DENOUNCED. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S SPEEGN EFFORTS FOR PEACE REVIEWED. (United. Press. Association .—Copyrights WASHINGTON, June 10. Mr Roosevelt, speaking at Charlotteville, declared' that the United'States would send its resources to aid the Allies in their magnificent fight. He denounced Italy for her entry into the war and asserted that Britain and France, in. fighting the totalitarian armies, were battling for freedom with magnificent valour. He added: ‘'The United States can--not safely be permitted to become a lone island in a world dominated by a (philosophy of force. Such an island may be the dream of those who still talk and- vote as isolationists. Such an island represents to me and to the overwhelming majority of Americans today the helpless nightmare of a people without freedom, a .people lodged in prison, handcuffed, hungry, and fed through bars from day to day by the contemptuous, unpitying masters of other continents. “Let us not hesitate to proclaim certain truths. Overwhelmingly, we, as a nation—and this applies to all the other Americas—are convinced that victory for tlie gods of force and hate would endanger the institutions of democracy in the Western" World, and that equally, therefore, the whole of our sympathies lie with those, nations which, are giving their lifeblood to combat those forces. President Roosevelt added: “The people and Government of the United States see with the utmost regret and grave disquiet the decision of Italy to engage in hostilities. Over the past three months the chief of the Italian Government sent me word that because of the determination of Italy to limit as far as possible the spread of the conflict oyer 200,000,000 people in the region of the Mediterranean had been enabled to escape the suffering and devastation of war. I expressd the earnest hope that this policy might be continued. On a subsequent occasion I offered, in message to the Chief of Italy to send- to England and France such specific- indications of the desires of Italy to obtain readjustment as the Chief might* desire, and proposed, that if Italy would refrain from entering the war; I would be willing to ask > for an assurance from the other Powers concerned that they would faithfully execute any agreement so reached, and’that Italy’s voice in future peace conferences would have the. same authority as if Italy had taken part in the war. Unfortunately . the Chief was unwilling to accept. The efforts of this Government have been directed to doing what it could for the preserva Hon of peace in the Mediterranean area.

Disregard for Rights. “Italy has now chosen to preserve what shq terms freedom of action, and to fulfil what she states are promises to Germany. ‘ In so doing, she has manifested a disregard for the rights and security of other nations, and for the lives people, of those nations directly threatened by the spread of war, and she.has evidenced her unwillingness to find means by pacific negotiations for the satisfaction of what she believes are her legitimate aspirations. The hand that held the dagger has struck it into the back of a neighbour. “This day we send forth our prayers and hopes for those beyond the seas who are maintaining with magnificent valour their battle for freedom. We will extend to the opponents of force the material, resources of this nation, and simultaneously harness and speed up the use of those resources in order that

we may have the equipment and training equal to the task of an emergency and any defence needs. All the roads leading to the accomplishment of these objectives must be kept clear. I call for effort, courage, sacrifice, and devotion.”

The President began by saying that the question the American people were now asking themselves was not a question of individual futures', or of the future of a generation, but about the future of the country and the American people. The nation had had to solve such questions before, when it had to plan for .the future of the whole people. There had been a time when in the. seemingly endless years of war between the States, the young men and women of each side had asked themselves what was to become of the country they fiad known. b Deliberate Contempt. Such a time had corn e again to-day, when the young men and women of the United States- asked themselves with earnestness and deep concern what was to become of the United States. What was to become of the country they knew? They asked themselves not only what the futute held for the American Republic, but what the future held for all people who had been living under democratic forms of government with free institutions and untrammelled liberties. Certain forces held that the ideals of liberty, free franchise, and of peace through justice were decadent, and that a new and better system would overrun the earth.

This philosophy had spread, to nation after nation where freedom had once been maintained. The world now saw in stark reality some of the consequences of this machine age in which the machine had become the master at the hands of an infinitely small group of individuals. Such mastery abandoned with deliberate contempt all moral values, to which the United States for more than 300 years had been accustomed and dedicated. . The United States could not be indifferent to the destruction of freedom in their ancestral lands beyond the seas. The conception, of clanger to American institutions might come,

slowly or with a sudden shock, as it had come to certain people in the last few months. *

There was a danger that this menace would become world-wide. They perceived in the world an arena which might stretch so far that only the Americas might retain their ancient faith. -

Speaking of his overtures to Italy, Mr Roosevelt said: —“I expressed the earnest hope of this Government and peoplei that Italy’s policy of checking the spread of war might be continued, and I made it clear, that, in the United

States Government’s opinion, any extension of hostilities in the region of the Mediterranean might result in a still greater enlargement of the hostilities —namely, in the Near East and Africa.—and if that came to be no one could see how much greater the theatre of Avar might eventually become. ‘ ‘Again, on a subsequent occasion not so long ago, recognising that the aspirations of Italy might form a basis for discussion between the Powers most specifically concerned, I sent a message to the chief of the Italian Government offering to send to the British and French Governments a specific indication of Italy’s desire to obtain readjustment of her position, as Mussolini might desire to transmit through me.

“I made it clear that the Government of the United States, in such an event, woujd not, ' and could not, assume responsibility for the nature of the proposals, nor for any agreement that might be reached. I said I would be willing to ask for assurances from the other Powers that they would faithfully execute any such agreement, and that Italy’s voice in any future peace conference would have the same authority as if Italy had taken part in the war as a belligerent. 11 Dune’s Reaction. “Unfortunately, and to the regret of the United States, Mussolini was not able to accept this procedure, and made no counter-proposals. This Government directed its efforts to doing what it could to. work for peace in the Mediterranean area, and likewise expressed its willingness to the Government of Italy to co-operate with the Italian Government when the appropriate occasion arose for the creation of a more stable world order by the reduction, of armaments, and by the construction- of a more liberal international economic system, in which all Powers would have equal opportunity in world markets and raw materials.

“I likewise‘thought it necessary in my communication to Mussolini to express the United States Government’s concern because of the fact that any extension of the war in the Mediterranean region would, inevitably, result in a great tragedy to- tlipi ways of life and government and trade and commerce of all the American republics. The ’Government .of Italy has non chosen the other course. “Prompted by the great American democracies we are sending all bur prayers and' hopes to those who are maintaining with magnificent valour the battle of freedom,” continued Mr Roosevelt. “In our unity—in our American unity—we are pursuing and extending the support of the material resources of this nation, -and at the same time we are increasing and speeding up the use of those resources in- order that we ourselves in the Americas may have equipment, and training, equal to- the task of any emergency and any defence needs. “The path leading to this objective must be kept clear of obstructions. We will not falter and the signs, and signals are for speed—full speed .ahead.”

At the same time the American people would not abandon the continued efforts to make democracy safe within its borders. The President called for courage and devotion, and said the love of freedom stood steadfast in the nation to-day. THE ALLIES ENCOURAGED. AMERICAN HELP A VITAL FACTOR. " f LONDON, June 10. Though it is too early yet for a, fully considered reception to Mr Roosevelt’s broadcast, authoritative London quarters believe that the (President’s words will hearten and encourage those whom lie describes as “giving their life blood in the combat *ag%inst the gods of force and hate.”

The Allied democracies are npw contending against great odds, .but they are no whit dismayed. Remembering the things for which they are fighting, they will fight with all the greater confideince now that they have heard the President’s uncompromising championship of their cause. The material resources of the United (States, added to those of the Allies, will prove a vital factor in the struggle now going on between the democracies of the west and the anti-.. Christian forces of barbarism.

No one, not even Signor Mussolini, could believe the United States is a pluto-deifioeracy or a sterile nation. Both the dictators who have embarked upon this struggle - the free peoples of Europe will n<f\v have an opportunity to digest at their leisure the news of whey® the United Stated stands in the fight.—British Official Wireless.