HEARTENING EFFECT

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1942, Page 5

HEARTENING EFFECT

Reported at Washington

LAust. & N.Z. Cable assh.j

(Rec. y.2u). WASHINGION, i?eo. 24. The capital nas appeared to oe consiclerauiy impressed ana perceptibly heartened oy president itoo.uveit's report to ,tne nation on tne progress or the war enort. The general! tenor of the speecn produced a feeling or reassurance m an orancnes of tne Government, and there has been also a measurable lessen.ng m me criticism which has been directed at tne administration from Congress during tne past few weens. Particularly encouraging were the foilowing pnases: Firstly, Mr Kooseve.iit’s reiteration of his former assurance that “good or bad, full, truthful inrormation would be made public, consistent with military security.” Secondly, there .was his unqualified assertion that) an but impossible production goats which he had set for planes, tanks and ships will be achieved. Thirdly, there was a determination which he vowed to prevent interference with' the production programme by Organised Labour or by other means. The Congressional reaction t,o Mr Roosevelt's radio speech was markedly favourable. A typical example was comment by a Republican leader, Representative Martin, who said: “It was comforting to hear the President’s assurance that progress in production and superiority in armaments can be achieved by America’s great industrial machine, and that therewith we will win the war.” Mr Martin also applauded Mr Roosevelt's assurance “that We soon would be taking the offensive.’ He voiced the opinion that the President’s appeal for unitv and sacrifice will find a wholehearted response from American people.

The “Wall Street” journal has an editorial to-day on President Roosevelt’s speech. It says: The American people want to do whatever is necessary to fight the war to an end. They .are not now interested in certain arguments about national policy before December 7. In stirring phrases, of which he is a master, Mr Roosevelt. has called for unity of sacrifice. We do not say that it will be given. We say it is being given.