GERMANY AS OUTLAW

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 228, 23 June 1941, Page 8

GERMANY AS OUTLAW

Roosevelt’s Charge SINKING OF ROBIN MOOR Seas Not To Be Yielded (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received June 22, 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 21. President Roosevelt, in a special message to Congress, described the sinking of the American ship Rohm Moor as the ruthless act of an international outlaw, and declared that the United States did not propose to yield the use of the high seas to Germany. “This Government,” he said, “can only assume that the German Government hojtes, through the commission of such infamous acts of cruelty to helpless. innocent men. women am] child reu, to intimidate the United States and other nations into a course of nonresistance to German plans for universal- conquest, based upon lawlessness and terror on land and piracy on ,’he sea. Such methods are fully in keeping with the methods of terrorism hitherto employed by the present German leaders toward many other nations subsequently victimized “The German Government may, however, be assured that the United States will neither be intimidated nor will it acquiesce iu the plans for world domination which the present leaders of Germany-may have. We are warranted in considering whether the case of the Robin Moor is not a step in a campaign against the United States analogous to the campaigns against other nations. We cannot place reliance on official declarations to the contrary. They are like the statements, declarations and even solemn pledges which have been forthcoming in respect of many nations, commencing with the statement that the German Government considered its territorial aspirations satisfied when it seized Austria by force. Conquest and Domination. “Evidence that the German Government continues to plan further conquest and domination ,is convincing; indeed it is scarcely disputed. Viewed in the light of circumstances the sinking of the Robin Moor becomes a disclosure of policy as well as an example of method. Its gonerappurpose would appear to be to drive American commerce from the pecan wherever such commerce is considered a disadvantage to German designs, and its specific purpose would appear to be the interruption of our trade with all friendly countries. We must take it that, notice has now been served upon us that no American shin or cargo on any of the seven seas can consider itself immune from acts of piracy.” Opinion in Washington is that in no statement on foreign polic.y has the President ever attacked Germany other methods so bitterly. The most important part of the speech, according to commentators, appears to be the statement that American ships will be subjected to acts of piracy on any of the seven seas. One comment is that this is another way of telling Congress and the country that Germany is at war with the United States, at least at sea.

It is reported that a formal protest will be presented in Berlin, but it is not expected that the next United States step will hinge upon the German reply.