Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1940. MR ROOSEVELT’S RE-ELECTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 24, 8 November 1940, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1940. MR ROOSEVELT’S RE-ELECTION.

The re-election of Mr Roosevelt will be welcomed by Britain and the Empire not because of any desire to take sides in purely internal politics but because it is accepted both by the democracies and by the Axis States that the President offers much practical aid to Britain than Mr Willkie was likely to give. The result of the polling is to a measure due to his personal good qualities, but it is also an indication that the country favours continuance of the present policy in relation to the war. As regards domestic affairs Mr Roosevelt had to overcome a natural reluctance on 1 the part of a considerable section of the electors to sanction a third term, establishing a precedent against which even some of his own. party objected. The New Deal has been subjected to severe criticism by Mr Willkie and his supporters in the campaign. On the other hand, in making provision for the maximum assistance that might be lent to Britain in the war, Mr Roosevelt interpreted the wish of the man in- the street, even while Congress was wrangling over the matter. With the increasing menace of totalitarianism, Mr Rosoevelt’s programme of greatly increased armaments, with conscription even in peace-time, had the approval of public opinion. Mr Willkie could not afford to run counter to public opinion, so that his criticism of his opponent’s policy found chief expression in an endeavour to cast blame on the President for his foreign policy generally before the outbreak of the war. Mr Roosevelt’s position is greatly strengthened by the fact that the Democrat Party will have majorities in both legislative chambers. With his return the United States is assured of strong leadership which is needed in the domestic field and even more so in the" international sphere. Britain will have a friend who may be relied upon to do his utmost on her behalf consistent with his pledge not to involve the United States in war unless the Western Hemisphere is imperilled.