DEFENCE OF ATLANTIC

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1940, Page 7

DEFENCE OF ATLANTIC

U.S.A. FEARS AROUSED ? RELIANCE ON BRITISH NAVY [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] . NEW YORK, April 14. ■' The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times’” says it is learned that Mr. Roosevelt instructed the Departments of State, Navy, and War to obtain information as Soon as possible pn .ho.w-the. Germans were able to land as fai?.:.north as Narvik, and whether the) British ■ Fleet was effective, enough ..to. drive the Germans out. of Norway. ' The departments met with indifferent success.'

The correspondent adds, that officials are concerned over the United States situation if the British Atlantic Fleet, which; is regarded as an insurance for the United States; is no longer effective. The. events of last week have brought home the importance of the British Fleet in the American scheme of defence. There is extreme reluctance in Government circles to express this view publicly, but the Government is so apprehensive that but for the mining of the Skagerrak and the occupation of Narvik a situation might have developed necessitating public expressions of its fears. The correspondent adds that if the Nazis held Norway and succeeded eventually in nullifying the British Fleet, a change in United States public policy might be forced. However, the indications are now regarded as pointing in the other direction. Opinion close to the White House is summarised thus: Japan is building a navy matching, perhaps excelling, that of the United States. If the British sea screen is no longer effective, the American Atlantic defences will be inadequate and the United States air and army defences will also be inadequate for 15 months. High officials express the opinion that a delayed outcome of the war might exhaust Europe, but a quick German victory would leave the United States unprepared, and she could hardly resist German demands regarding Latin America.

It is understood that the United States Secretary of State (Mr. Cordell Hull) is opposed to expressing these views, and for the time being he has prevailed. However, some officials are still apprehensive about developments in Scandinavia and may force the Government to acquaint the public of its fears. STRONGER NAVY ADVOCATED. (Recd. April 16, 10.40 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 15. Admiral Stark told the Senate Naval Affairs Committee that developments in the European war make it advisable to increase the fighting strength of the United States Navy by 25 per cent. ‘ He declared that the Vinson Bill, expanding the tonnage by 11 per cent., is acceptable, but 25 per cent would better meet the defence needs. He added that he had not sought for

the navies in the Atlantic and the Pacific a 25 per cent, increase merely to .permit-the maintenance of the 5/3 ratio with Japan. There was no re-

liable information as to Japanese building since 1936, but the probable minimum,-- compared with the Unitgd States,- was as follows: Battleships; America eight', Japan eight; aircraftcarriers 2—-4, 6 —B, destroy39—32,...submarines 19 —20.

PRESIDENT DENOUNCES FORCE

WARNING TO DICTATORS.

WASHINGTON, April 15.

In a world-wide broadcast, Mr. Roosevelt. speaking at the Governing Board of the Pan-American Union’s observance of its fiftieth annivery, said: “Wars -abroad are more horrible aijd more destructive than ever. We in this hemisphere do not need to seek a new international order. We have already found it. This was not won by hysterical outcries, or violent movements of troops. We did not stamp out nations, capture governments, oe root up innocent people from the homes they had built. We did not invent absurd doctrines of race supremacy, or claim dictatorship through universal revolution.”

Mr. Roosevelt continued: “Co-opera-tive peace in the Western Hemisphere will not be created by wishing, aqd will require more than words to maintain it. Whoever touches any one of us,' touches all. We have only asked that the world go with us, along the path of peace, but we shall be able to keep that way open, only if we are prepared to meet force with force, if the challenge is ever made.” “To-day, we can have no illusions. Gid dreams of a universal empire are again rampant. We hear of races which claim the right of mastery, aqd of groups which insist they have the right to impose their way of life on other nations. We encounter economic compulsions, shrewdly devised to force great areas into political spheres of influence.

“All this is not of mere academic in,erest. We know that what happens in the Old World directly and power-

fully affects the peace, and well-being of the New World. For this very re_ason, we have adopted procedures to enable us to meet any eventuality. At Buenos Aires, we agreed to consult should peace be threatened. At Lima, we agreed to stand together to defend and maintain' the integrity of every American nation. At Panama, we worked out ways and means of„keep„ing the war away from the Americas. I pray to God that we shall not have to do more, but; should it be necessary,: I ahi convinced that we should be wholly successful. V. “The inner strength of a group of free people is irresistible, when they are prepared to act. In my coricejption, the'whole world is now struggling to find the basis of its life for the coming centuries. I affirm that life must be based oh positive values. The value of love will always be stronger than the value of-hate,‘since any nation or group which employs hatred is eventually torn to pieces Within itself. The value of the belief in humanity and justice-vis always stronger than the value of the belief in force, because force finally siturns inward, and each man or group [of men 1 is compelled to measure his . strength against his own brother. The value of truth and sincerity is always stronger .than .the value of lies and cynicism. No process has yet been invented which can permanently separate men hearts' and consciences. You cannot make men believe that a way of life is good when it spreads poverty,..misery, disease, and death. Men cannot everlastingly be loyal, unless-they are free.