AID TO BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24430, 16 October 1940, Page 7

AID TO BRITAIN

AMERICA’S PLEDGE FULFILMENT ASSURED THE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH ANSWER TO AXIS THREATS (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Oct 14. (Received Oct. 15. at 7.30 p.m.) President Roosevelt’s broadcast on Saturday following closelv the recent declarations of Mr Wendell Willkie. has given what the press here feels is an authentic notice in unmistakable terms of where the United States stands on the great moral issues which took Britain into the war against Hitlerism and where the American people will continue to stand until all danger to the ideals of freedom, justice, and neighbourliness among nations is overthrown New Emphasis on Intentions The Daily Telegraph hails the speech as the most forthright answer vet given to the AxisJapan ess pact. “ The President has restated his countiy’s intentions with new emphasis He placed the widest possible interpretation upon Ats' policv of defending the western hemisphere against acts of aggression. reminding all whom it mav concern that not merely territories of the American continent and its adjacent islands are guaranteed by that policy, but also the peaceful use of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans —a traditional principle of American diplomacy which has been ignored before with disastrous results to the challenger With this President Roosevelt combines a perfectly clear assurance upon a matter which more nearly concerns Britain and those peoples who in anv way are able to act with her as combatants. ,’ No combination of the dictatoi countries of Europe and Asia,’ said Mr Roosevelt ‘ will prevent the help we are giving to almost the last free people fighting to hold them at bay.’ That is as plain as words can make it.”

Intimidation Fails

The Times says: “ If the pact with Japan is designed to intimidate America, its failure has been disastrous. Mr Roosevelt’s broadcast left no doubt where the United States stands and how it regards the pact. On the eve of a bitterly contested election, the President could not have spoken as he did in this vigorous and uncompromising pronouncement if he had not been sneaking for the great majority of the country.” ’ The same point is made by the Daily Herald, which wi'ites: “ Whoever wins, the pledge to help Britain stands. Mr Willkie sees his duty as clearly as President Roosevelt.” Australia’s Position The President’s answer to the Axis threats evoked admiring comment in other parts of the Empire. The Melbourne Argus says: “ The President’s bluntness is welcomed throughout the Empire. He explicitly pledged the United States to. give protection to the entire western hemisphere. The President’s words mean that we will not be left solely to our own devices if menaced from the north. The corollary of this, our participation in the Empire’s struggle, can be as full and wholehearted as the people of Australia wish it to be. Australia’s first line of defence is necessarily naval, and with the assurance that the United States is vitally interested in the Pacific we can deploy our full strength where it can be used to the greatest advantage.”