GERMANY CONDEMNED FOR INHUMAN ACTION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 145, 21 June 1941, Page 7

GERMANY CONDEMNED FOR INHUMAN ACTION

BITTER ATTACK U.S. President's Special Message To Congress r.r'li-1i Oflir-i..! Wlr.Wt. Re.-. _■ :?o p.m. H.rcnv. June The keone-t interest has been aroused in Briuun by reports of Pre>ident Ro<>se\cltspo. ial message to Congress, which asserted" "Notice is served r.n us. 1:1 effect., that the German Reich proposes* u-> intimidate the Vnr.cil St.j'e- so tlial we would be dissuaded from carrying out our t hosen policy of helping Britain to survive. "We are asked 1o tak<- the sinking of the Robin Moor a- a warning to the 1 "nned States not to resist the Nazi movemcnl of worid conquest, and to take it as a warning that the I'nited States may use the high seas of the world only with Nazi consent. "Were we 1o yield to this, we would mevitablv * submit to world domination at the hands of the present leaders of ihe German Reich. We are not yielding and do not propose to yield. Our Government believes that 'reedom from cruelly and inhuman treatment is natural and right It is not a grace to be given or withheld at will by those temporarily in a position to exert force over defenceless people. "The German effort to drive American vessels from the high seas represents an effort to coerce the United States from carrying aid to Britain, although the Robin Moor itself wan not engaged in such activity. Viewed in the light of the circumstances, the sinking of the Robin Moor becomes a disclosure of policy as well as an example of method. Heretofore, lawless acts of violence have been the preludes to schemes of land conquest. This one appears to be the first step in the assertion of the supreme purpose of the German Reich 10 seize control of the high seas, the conquest of Britain being an indisputable part of that seizure." The President added that full reparations for losses and damages suffered by American nationals will be expected from Germany, and declared thai ihe United States would not yield to such "outrageous and indefensible acts" of "international outlaw." The first reaction in Washington to the President's message was that he had never attacked Germany in such bitter terms It was stated that a most vigorous proiest would be lodged in Berlin against the sinking. but the I niter! Stales' future action would not depend upon the reply.