“UNIVERSAL TRAGEDY”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 14 April 1945, Page 5

“UNIVERSAL TRAGEDY”

TRIBUTE BY MR NASH

“It was my privilege and honour whilst holding office as New Zealand Minister to the United States to win the friendship of Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose loss we to-day all mourn. It is my sad task to-day as Acting-Prime Minister to express on behalf of the Government and peo- * pic of New Zealand profound regret over the death of the President of the United States, Franklin D. Iloosevelt,” said Mr Nash.

“Our sorrow will be felt in all lands where people cherish free life and the right of the least fortunate of them to a share in happiness. All the United Nations have lost a warm-hearted champion of the poor and the oppressed throughout the world. “Mr Roosevelt’s death is so untimely as to be a universal tragedy. He died within sight of a victory for which he spent so much of his strength and which would have crowned his remarkable career as a leader in the cause of humanity. Few' men, if any. have worked harder for the good of his country and its neighbours. And the brave manner In which he mastered his physical infirmity was an inspiration f o all those crippled by infantile paralysis or by grievous accident. As a man President Roosevelt had a lovable character, geniality, and the gift of making and keeping friends; as an administrative ruler he had a fine tolerance, a shrewd wisdom, and a firmness of purpose. “During his career- Mr Roosevelt never experienced a period of tranquillity. He first assumed office in 1932 amidst the turmoil and misery of the record slump. His personal knowledge of suffering fortified him in carrying out with memorable success the provision of material help for the victims of economic depression. He gained the gratitude of many people and won the firm confidence of the majority. They retained him as tfeeir Presidential leader for a record span and at no time was their reliance upon his leadership weakened, indeed, it became stronger. When the war broke upon the world in 1939 Mr Roosevelt’s sympathy was with the Allied Nations; when Japan treacherously attacked Pearl Harbour he used' all his powers and eloquent persuasives not only to mobilise all the reserves of his own country against the Axis hordes, but to reinforce the fighting strength of the other United Nations. Current history daily reveals the effects of American action and co-operation. The late President did not spare himself. Long and arduous journeys to vital conferences ‘somewhere in the Atlantic’ where the Charter of Four Freedoms was devised in co-operatioif with Mr Churchill, in North Africa, at Teheran, and finally at Yalta in Ihe Crimea sapped his physical strength and ended his life. He will take rank with Lincoln in American history; in world history his name will be cherished as that of the greatest democrat of them all. With many other nations New Zealand has lost a generous friend. The sympathy of the people will flow like a tide to Mrs Roosevelt and her family.” A PERSONAL MESSAGE The following personal message was sent to Mrs Roosevelt by Mr and Mrs Nash:— “My wife and I extend to you and your family our deep sympathy at the lo§s you have sustained by the passing of your husband. His life was given for the building of a better world, and his great contribution will be remembered as long as history is written.” CATHOLIC SYMPATHY Wellington, Apl. 13. “It is with great sorrow that I have heard of the unexpected death of President Roosevelt,” said the Catholic Metropolitan of New Zealand (Archbishop T. O’Shea). “Coming at such a time it is a world calamity and may have far-reaching consequences. Our sympathy goes out to the people of the United States, especially to Mrs Roosevelt, whose charming personality and other qualities made such an impression on us during her short visit to New Zealand.”