GRAVE WARNING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 197, 22 July 1941, Page 6

GRAVE WARNING

CRISIS FACING AMERICA

WORSE THAN YEAR AGO. (United Press Association. —Copyright) (Rec. 1 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 21. In his special message to Congress, urging longer army service Tor draftees, National Guardsmen, and reservists, President Roosevelt said the German attacks had brought Nazi domination closer to the Western Hemisphere. “AVe Americans cannot afford to speculate with the security of America,’’ he declared. “The international situation is far graver than a year

ago; it is so grave, in my opinion, and in the opinion of all wno are conversant with the facts, that the army should be maintained at effective strength without diminution of the effective numbers in a complete

state of readiness. 4 “Small as it is in comparison with other armies, it should not suffer any form of disorganisation or disintegration. We will be taking a grave national risk unless Congress makes it possible to maintain tiie present full effective strength of the army and during the coming year maintain the training of as many additional Americans as we can. “When immediate readiness for service becomes more and more vital as a precautionary measure, the elimination of approximately two-thirds ol our trained soldiers and three-fourths of the officer personnel would bo a tragic error.” Mr Roosevelt said it was tho wellnigh unanimous opinion of those cognisant with the field of international relations that the aggressor nations scheme against American security was so evident that all the Americas were definitely imperilled. “That is why, reluctantly, after a careful weighing of the facts aiul events, 1 recently proclaimed an unlimited national emergency. I don t think any branch of the Government of the United States will be willing to let America risk the fate which has destroyed the independence o>

other nations. “Each elimination of a victim has brought Nazi domination closer to this hemisphere, while month by inont.i their intrigues of propaganda and conspiracy have sought to weaken evoiv link in the community ol interests that should bind the Americas into a great Western family. I knovy in all truth we are in the midst or a national emergency and 1 hope Congress will acknowledge this national emergency. , . “Because of the swiftness of modern events, I think Congress should also reniovo the restrictions on the numbers of selectees inducted each year. It is true that in modern war men without machines arc of little value; it is equally true that machines without men are of no value at all. “One final word: Time counts Within two months the disintegration which would follow failure to take Congressional action would commence in the armies of the United States. Time counts. The responsibility rests solejy with Congress.

GERAIAN DESIGNS.

The Associated Press says that when Air Sumner Welles told the Press that the United States had information that Germany is plan-

ning new steps for aggression against the remaining independent European countries lie did not explain which countries were about to be attacked, but obviously referred to Spain, Portugal, and possibly Switzerland and Turkey

Mr Welles disclosed that the United States had promised lull support to Bolivia in the event of an international incident arising from the attempted Nazi coup. Mr Welles, referring to the sharp attack on the United States bv General Franco last week, in which General Franco asserted that American offers of economic help to Spain had always involved attempts* to force Spain to obey the will of other nations, said it was entirely untrue that the supplies of food anil medicines sent to Spain by the American Red Cross were contingent uiion any policy, except that the Spanish people should remain at peace. Answering General Franco on the consequences of a Nazi victory, Ml Welles pointed out that if the control of the. Atlantic and other seas passed to unfriendly Rowers the independence of the American repuh- ' lies would be gravely endangered. Their present security and prosperity were founded on the fact that such seas wero controlled by friendly Rowers.

Mr Roosevelt has sent to the Senate the nomination of Mr Thomas Murray Wilson to be the first United States diplomatic representative in India, with the rank of minister.