MR ROOSEVELT’S SPEECH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 31 December 1940, Page 6

MR ROOSEVELT’S SPEECH

LONDON COMMENT INDICTMENT OF NAZISM [British Official Wirelessj (Received 31st December 9.58 a.m.) RUGBY, 30th December. President Roosevelt’s speech is warm-: ly welcomed in official circles in London and is regarded as further proof I of the courage and realism of Americas! attitude towards the dangers confront-! ini- democracy no less in the western j hemisphere than in Europe, and Asia. | The speech is one of the most powerful and logical indictments of Nazism that j has ever been spoken and his recognition of the futility of any attempt to t appease the forces of evil is noted with! special satisfaction. His definition of America's role as an "arsenal of democracy” and his forthright expression of the belief in the ultimate defeat of the Axis Powers will bo a souice of inspiration and courage to the leaders and people of Britain. Goodwill, and the provision of America’s material assistance, is gathering volume and with the utmost speed. A passage in President Roosevelt's broadcast which attracted attention here is that in which he spoke of the position of the smaller States He made it clear that nothing in the lesson provided by the fate of Austria. Czechoslovakia. Norway. Denmark. Holland and Belgium has been lost upon White House. PRESIDENT PLEASED WITH RECEPTION [U.P.A.—By Electric Telesraph-CopyriehtJ (Received 31st December. 11.15 am.) WASHINGTON. 30th December. President Roosevelt invited Mr Arthur] Purvis, head of British Purchasing Mission in U.S.. to a luncheon conference. It was announced that President Roosevelt was tremendously pleased with the reception of his speech, especially the fact that it was approved

by some of the Republican leaders. In Ottawa a high Government official said that President Roosevelt’s speech “might be the turning point in the world struggle against Hitlerism. It was an epochal speech.”