CALL TO U.S.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20634, 9 December 1941, Page 5

CALL TO U.S.

STRONG DEFENCE CONGRESS CHEERS ROOSEVELT SPEECH TREACHERY DISCLOSED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 9, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON. Dec. 8. "No matter how long it may take the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory,” declared President Roosevelt in a brief address to Congress to-day in which he asked Congress to declare that a state of war existed between the United States and Japan. The President was speaking to a combined meeting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, lie was greeted with prolonged cheering and his remarks were punctuated with applause.

There had taken place an act that wold live in infamy, said the President, in referring to tire incidents of the previous day. Japan had treacherously attacked the territory of the United States. The two countries had been at peace and diplomatic negotiations were still proceeding with '.he Government and the Emperor of Japan when the attack was launched

The distance of Hawaii from Japan, he said, made it obvious that the attack was planned weeks ago It was clear that Japan had deliberately deceived the United States. There had been severe damage and heavy loss of life in Hawaii and American ships had been torpedoed on the high seas. “Japan has initiated a surpriseoffensive extending throughout the Pacific area,” he went on “The facts speak for themselves As com-mander-in-chief of the forces, 1 have directed that all measures be taken for our defence.

“There is no flinching from the facL that our people and their territory are in grave danger, but we will gain a complete triumph. So help us God! I ask Congress to declare that since Sunday, December 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Empire of Japan.”

Cabinet Assembly

Cabinet members and Congressional leaders met in Mr. Roosevelt’s study last night for a momentous conference on America’s immediate steps following Japan’s ' war moves and amid predictions that Congress would formally declare war at once. “Of course it’s war,” said Senator Austin as he entered the room. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Committee, Senator Tom Connally, said the Japanese attack may soon result in open warfare between the United States and Germany and Italy. Senator Connally said he expected a declaration of war from Germany. He added that the United States intended to wait for declarations from the Axis instead of taking the initiative. Congressmen yesterday were seething with indignation and freely predicting that Congress would adopt a declaration of war without hesitation if President Roosevelt asked for one.

The isolationist, Mr. Hamilton Fish, said he would speak to Congress asking the American peoples to present a united front in support of the President.

Senator Reynolds, of the Senate military committee, said: “I am 100 per cfent against war. I want to know all about what has happened before I say anything about declaring war.”

Senator Elbert Thomas said: “It is the act of desperate men and will result in their destruction. The Japanese Government has plainly gone mad.” Senator Wheeler advocated an immediate declaration of war against Japan. He said: “The Japanese have chosen war. We must now exert every energy, not only to win, but to give the Japanese such a whipping that they will not want war again. The only thing to do now is to do our best to lick hell out of them.”

The Republican leader, Mr. Wendell Willkie, said: “I have not the slightest doubt as to what the United States should and will do.” “Treacherously Attacked”

Mr. Herbert Hoover, the former President, in a statement said:— “American soil has been treacherously attacked by Japan. Our decision is clear. It is forced upon us. We must fight with everything we possess.” The chairman, Mr. Robert Wood, announced that the isolationist America First Committee supports war against Japan. Senator Nye, speaking at Pittsburgh, said the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour was “just what Britain has planned for us. Britain has been r Vtting this ready since 1938,” he declared.

, The New York Times in an editorial says: “There is only one possible answer to Japan’s attack. That is an immediate declaration of war against Japan. This is so clear and inescapable that Congress can be relied upon to act with all possible speed and to give its answer with that unanimity which will speak for a united nation. The United States has been attacked. The United States is in danger. Let every patriot take a stand on the bastions of democracy. The time has come to forget pride of judgment and throw partisanship to the winds and rally to the flag of the United States.” The Chicago Tribune, long the most bitter isolationist newspaper in the United States, last night returned to the masthead the famous slogan: “Our country, right or wrong,” which it abandoned after breaking with Mr. Roosevelt. A front-page editorial asserted that war had been forced upon America by an “insane clique of Japanese militarists. . . . All of us from this day have but one task—to strike with all our might to protect and preserye American freedom.” The New York Daily News, one of the country’s leading anti-war publications, publishes an editorial under the caption: “Well, we are in it,” saying: “The time has come for all of us to stand by the President.”