DEFENCE OF DEMOCRACY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 89, 16 April 1938, Page 9

DEFENCE OF DEMOCRACY

THE AMERICAN CONTINENTS

WARNING TO AGGRESSOR NATIONS

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright)

Received April 15, 7 p.m. WASHINGTON, April 14,

Mr Roosevelt bluntly warned aggressor nations that the United States was resolved to maintain peace lin the North and South American continents, and would not tolerate attacks on the principles of democratic liberty linking them together. Peoples of the western hemisphere must be prepared to sacrifice their lives to preserve their hard-won democracy and independence. Mr Roosevelt served notice that the United States was determined that neither Fascism nor Communism would be allowed to obtain a foothold in either of the Americas. “The presentation of a strong united front against foreign encroachment forms a lasting foundation for the maintenance of international understanding unique in the world,” he said.

AMBASSADORS SPEECH LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS UNITED FRONT URGED Received April 15, 7.5 p.m. LIMA (Peru), April 14. The United States’ Ambassador, Mi Laurence Steinhardt, in a broadcast address, urged the Latin-American nations to present a united front against the Old World predatory forces seeking new or lost fields to conquer. He asked public * opinion throughout the western hemisphere to marshall against those believing that the law of the jungle was man’s destiny. “We may well ask ourselves why nations thousands of miles distant, already seriously impoverished, should expend huge sums on propaganda among us unless they are expecting a very handsome return on the investment,” he added.

The Washington correspondent ot the Associated Press says that Congressional leaders believe that Mr Steinhardt’s speech indicates willingness on the part of the United States to join a moral front against the encroachment on democratic forms of Government in South America.

SPEECH BY ROOSEVELT

Received April 15, 6.20 p.m. WASHINGTON, April 14

Mr. Roosevelt, in a speech on the occasion of Pan-American Day, declared that 21 American republics were firmly resolved to maintain peace. “Peace will not be endangered by controversies within our family and we will not permit it to be endangered by aggression coming from outside our hemisphere,” said the President.