Roosevelt Makes Another Strong Call To Democracies

Northern Advocate, 20 February 1939, Page 7

Roosevelt Makes Another Strong Call To Democracies

NEW YORK. February 19. J>EFORE LEAVING KEY WEST, FLORIDA, ABOARD THE CRUISER HOUSTON, TO ATTEND THE GREATEST PEACE TIME MANOEUVRES EVER HELD BY THE AMERICAN FLEET, PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT REMINDED THE TOTALITARIAN POWERS OF AMERICA’S INTEREST IN THE CONTINUED POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE WORLD DEMOCRACIES. v Mr. Roosevelt added that disturbing information continued to be received from the international front, which might cut short his fortnight’s cruige. The president bluntly warned aggressive nations that the American Republics were uniting in their “common aspiration to defend and maintain 'their self-governing way of life.” x J '

He called on all the countries of the western hemisphere “to lift democracy high above the ugly truculence of autocracy.”

International Perils.

In demeanour as well as in his words, the President displayed obvious concern over the possibility of a new international crisis.

It is understood he has received reports that the European democracies are facing a threat of aggression. He did not give details, but it is understood he has been informed that demands are being forced on the democracies “other than through diplomatic channels.” Good Neighbour Policy. Mr. Roosevelt strongly reinforced his pledges to the good neighbour policy. Calling it “the corner stone of our foreign policy,” he pledged himself to co-operate in every effort, “honestly put forward” to limit armaments.

Mr. Roosevelt’s remarks were contained in two radio addresses which he made before boarding the cruiser. From the rear seat of an open automobile facing a battery of microphones, the President addressed first the San Francisco Exposition and then the Pan-American Hernando de y Soto Exposition at Tampa, Florida. A London cablegram says that, speaking in the course of an international peace campaign representing 17 countries, under the presidency of M. Paul Boncour, the secretary, M. Louis d’Olivet, said a steady increase of resentment had produced an explosion of feeling in America against the totalitarian States, which would influence America to provide food and war supplies to the democracies if hostilities broke out.