CLEAR WARNING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 9, 22 October 1940, Page 5

CLEAR WARNING

TO AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THREAT FROM THE DICTATORS.

URGENT TASK FOR EVERYONE.

TO BUILD UP THE DEFENCES

(United Press Association —Copyright.) CHICAGO, October 21. The United States Ambassador to France (Mr Henry Bullitt), in a broadcast address said:

“If ever a clear warning was given to a nation that the three aggressors contemplated a future assault on it, that warning was given to the American people by the recently-announced agreement signed in Berlin by Germany, Italy and Japan. Experience in Europe has taught us that to try to appease a totalitarian dictator is useless. We know that, many tried and have been destroyed. We do not intend to try.

“Faced with such a threat, the most urgent task is in increasing the armed forces, especially the Air Force. I urge every American to do liis utmost to increase the production of arms and planes,” added Mr Bullitt.

He cited many Americans honestly believing that tlie oceans, plus the strongest fleet in the world, was a guarantee and said: “They forget that if England succumbs the shipbuilding capacity of the yards the dictators already control, plus Britain’s, would be six times the capacity of ours.” He said the good-neighbour policy had resulted in the greatest hemispheric solidarity in history, but in many (South American; States there were strong secret nazi movements which, if they gained control, would invite tbe Germans to enter, after which divebombers would get through to the Panama Canal as they got to London.