Willkie, Knox Support Fighting Speech

Northern Advocate, 9 May 1941, Page 5

Willkie, Knox Support Fighting Speech

WASHINGTON, May 8.

The broadcast talk by the Secretary for War (Mr Stimson) created considerable interest in Washington yesterday. In a speech at a booksellers’ banquet, the Secretary for the Navy (Colonel Frank Knox) said: “All American resources are committed to the supreme purpose of ensuring that British seapower is not destroyed. “We are living in fearful danger. Our only safety is to supplement Britain’s forces, because non-mainten-ance of a bridge of ships to Britain would mean that we would eventually face an immeasurably superior combination of the Italian, German and French navies. We have also to guard against Japan in the Pacific. “The oceans are not bulwarks, but avenues of attack.”

Commentators point out that this is the first official reference to the possibility of Germany using the French navy. Less Talk, More Action

Mr Wendell Willkie, in an address at a freedom rally at Madison Square Garden, said: “I don’t care whether you call it safe delivery, convoying:, patrolling, aeroplane accompaniment or what-not—we want those cargoes protected at once, and with less talk and more action.

“There is no reason for despair. The British still control the seas and can draw on the world’s resources. Furnish Britain with the ships she needs until it hurts. Give her destroyers,, and see that those ships deliver their cargoes safely to British ports."

The totalitarian doctrine, said Mr Willkie, was a threat to the freedom enjoyed by American people. Axis agents were already active in South America. Already the outposts of the only remaining free people were being destroyed. If the United States allowed Britain to fall she would be the next to feel the weight of the Nazis.

Call Upon President

Hitler could not win without conquering Britain, and he could not do that if Britain’s sea lanes were kept open. Mr Willkie called upon Americans to keep them open. Mr. Willkie sent a telegram from the meeting to President Roosevelt, urging him, as leader of a free people, to execute their will and provide the machines and 'materials so sorely needed in the defence of freedom. The telegram asked Mr Roosevelt to see that the materials consigned to Britain were not sent to the bottom of the Atlantic, and added: “If this means convoys, we call upon you to provide them.”