SHARP REPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 157, 4 July 1940, Page 21

SHARP REPLY.

TO "MR." LINDBERGH.

THREAT OF INVASION.

"U.S.A. AROUSED TO DANGER."

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SAN FRANCISCO, June 6,

One of the principal incidents of the American reaction to the war wa« the nation-wide talk over the radio by Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, who received several outspoken replies. Striking back at Lindbergh for his criticUin of the Roosevelt Administration's foreign policy, Senator Byrnes Democrat, of South Carolina, asserted that Lindbergh was no more qualified to speak on the subject than "WrongWayCorrigan or any other aviator who '"ay fly the Atlantic."

He added that "fifth columns" already were active in America and that those who consciously or unconsciously retarded the efforts of the U.S. Government to provide for the defence of the American people were the "fifth columns' most effective fellow travellers."

Senator Byrnes' address was considered the Administration for-es' official reply to the speech in which Lindbergh called for an end to "hysterical chatter of calamity and invasion," and decried what lie called meddling in Kurope and urged a definite policy of defence. Air. Byrnes said President Roosevelt had a definite policy of defence already formulated and had stated it time and again. The Senator said that "Mr. Lindbergh -, (nowhere in the manuscript of the speech did the title "Colonel" a-ppear) had accepted a decoration from Hitler.

He went on to inquire: "When Mr. Lindbergh says, "No one wishes to attack us,' is he authorised to speak for Hitler or Goering? Can the American people, in the light of recent history, accept the assurance of thi* young gentleman that, if we do not ask for war, it will not come to ust"

Mr. Byrnes, who is chairman of the Senate Naval Appropriations Sub-coni-niittee, took sharp issue with Lindbergh's statement that foreign air forces do not have bombing 'planes capable of crossing the ocean and returning, and criticised the flyer's views on policy ae well.

Violations of Rights. "When Mr. Lindbergh states that 'regardless of which side wins this war, there is no reason, aside from our own actions, to prevent a continuation of peaceful relationships between ( America and the countries of Europe'," Mr. Byrnes eaid, "I shudder to think of the kind of America Mr. Lindbergh is willing to accept. Mr. Lindbergh seems not concerned with the flagrant violations of the rights of peaceful little nations, the cruel and bitter persecution of Godfearing men, women and children because of their religion, race or political opinions; the burning of books, the bombing of helpless women and children fleeing in terror from their homes; the parachute spies and the torch troops. To Mr. Lindbergh ell these seem to be only little, trifling, insignificant incidents to an age-old struggle for power. But to me these vile, barbaric deeds represent an attack against everything that we hold dear, an attack against international good faith,.; -feligaoß, against learning, against political freedom, against civilisation itself.'

"Mr. Lindbergh may tell us to 'stop this hysterical chatter of calamity and invasion, , but I thank God that America has at last been aroueed to the dangers that beset her in a world menaced by 'brute force and strident ambition and is grimly determined to arm in selfdefence."