FORGE OPPOSED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 196, 19 August 1940, Page 7

FORGE OPPOSED.

REPUBLICAN POLICY.

Mr. Willlcie Outlines Views In

Acceptance Speech.

United Press Association.—Copyright.

NEW YORK, Aqg: 18.

In. a speech at Elwood (Indiana), accepting the Republican nomination Presiden cy» Mr. Wendell L. WiUkie stated that no man eonld guarantee to maintain peace. It was neither ] ractical nor desirable to adopt a ioreign programme commit, ting the United States to future action under unknown circumstances. "Wβ must not shirk the necessity of preparing our sons to take care of themselves in ca*e the defence of America leads to war." Mr. said. "I cannot ask the American peoc'e to put their faith in me without recording my conviction that some form of selective service is the only democratic way to secure trained man pow*r for national defence.

"We must honestly face our relationship with Britain and must admit tbst the loss of the British Fleet would greatly weaken our defence, leaving the Atlantic dominated by Germany—a Power hostile to our way of life—and controlling, in that event, most of the ships and shipbuilding fatalities of Europe. Trade Differences. "If we had to trade with a Europe dominated by present German trade policies, we might have to change our methods to some totalitarian form. This prospect any lover of democracy must new with consternation." Mr. WiUkie agreed with President Roosevelt's policy of extending the material resources of the nation to the opponents of force, but did not understand this as applying military involvment in the present hostilities. "I do not follow the President's conduct of affairs in this critical time," Mr. Willkie continued. "There have* been occasions when many wondered if he was deliberately inciting us to war. In defence of America and of our liberties, I would not hesitate to stand for war, but, like a great many other Americans, I saw what war was like at first-hand in 1917. I know what war can do to demoralise the civil liberties of the home. "I believe it is the first duty of the President to try to maintain peace, but Mr. Roosevelt ha« not done this. Mr. Roosevelt has dabbled in inflammatory statements and manufactured panics. The President's attacks on foreign Powers have been" useless and dangerous. They have courted a war, for which the country is hopelessly unprepared, and which it does not want. President Criticised. '""Mr. Roosevelt has secretly interfered in the affaire of Europe and has even unscrupulously encouraged other countries to hope for more help than we are able to give. He has been slow to take the American people into hie confidence. "As President, I would plan to reverse both these policies. I should threaten foreign Governments only when our country is threatened by fhem and when lam ready to act.'aivt-1 should consider our diplomacy as part of the people's business, concerning which they are entitled to prompt and frank reports to the limit of practicability. ''The first task of our country internationally i> to become strong at home. Our way of life is in conijiotitKiu with Hitler's. I promise. !•>• retnrnin- to those -ane American principles, that overcame Cierman autocracy once In-fnrc. hr>tii in liui-incss and war. to out-distance Hitler in any contes-t he chouees, iu 1940 or I after." .

Mr. Willkie attacked at length the Xew Deal, which he said had divided the nation. He declared: "I stand for a new companionship in industrial eociety "