WORLD REACTION TO SPEECH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 125, 30 May 1941, Page 5

WORLD REACTION TO SPEECH

PRESS VIEWS ON WHAT MR. ROOSEVELT SAID WELCOMED IN BRITAIN DENOUNCED BY AXIS London, May 28. Comment on the speech made by the President of the United States, Mr. F. D. Roosevelt, when he broadcast from White House, Washington, yesterday, is contained in the world press. The speech is applauded in Britain and the democracies and condemned in Axis countries. United States, The President's secretary, Mr. Stephen Early, said that telegraphic and mail response to the President’s speech was pouring in throughout the day and broke all White House records. Naval experts interpret the President’s statement that "Britain will get the goods” as a signal for extended United States Navy operations in the Atlantic. The majority of American newspapers applaud the President's speech and declare that it has finally put the United States on a war basis. The New York Times says: "The speech is a challenge to Herr Hitler. We are determined to put in the hands of our loyal friends the weapons of self-defence.” The Tribune says: "Mr. Roosevelt made it plain that he proposes to wage war against Germany, Italy and Japan if he deems it necessary for the defence of the Western Hemisphere. He laid down a broad, solid foundation upon which action may and should be taken. That action must follow.” The Detroit News says: “Mr. Roosevelt has declared war. Now America will discard her selfish ends and work for victory.” Congressmen generally applaud the speech, but isolationists deplore it as a drift to war. Mr. Wendell Willkie, in a statement in New York, said the President had stirred the whole world with his great message. “He said exceedingly well what we needed to hear,” he said. "Now it is the duty of everyone, whether Republican or Democrat, or New’ Dealer, unitedly to make the policy Mr. Roosevelt enunciated effective. Italy. The British United Press Rome correspondent states that official Italian reaction is lacking, but some quarters Inferred that a definite Anglo-Ameri-can war plan is already worked out, in which the speeding of American production is the first step. Il Duce’s spokesman, Signor V. Gayda, in the Giornale d'ltalia, said: “Mr. Roosevelt's speech was bombastic. alarmist, aggressive, confused, and bound to disappoint the British, who expected a declaration of war.” China. In Chungking, Chinese officials hail Mr. Roosevelt’s speech as one of the most important in the world's history, and reiterate China’s determination to continue resistance until final victory. Japan. The immediate general reaction in Japan is that Mr. F. D. Roosevelt's

speech, while more truculent, contained little new. The opinion is expressed that it is significant that he did not mention convoys, from which the conclusion is formed that Mr, Roosevelt is still hesitating to load the United States to war. Some observers said that Chungking's downfall is imminent, so that the promise of increased aid to China is unlikely to materialise. Reaction in Tokio deems the speech one step more towards war. Japanese newspapers are inclined to exaggerate the declaration of national emergency as a "dictatorship.” Germany. “The speech is neither a sensation nor new," was the first comment of officials in Berlin. They added: "As far as Mr. Roosevelt's remarks on the freedom of the seas are concerned, we draw attention to Admiral E. von Raeder's warning and also the Fuhrer’s statement that any ship coming in front of our torpedo tubes will be destroyed.” The British United Press Berlin correspondent states that official interest is centred in Mr. Roosevelt's statement on the present rate of sinkings of British ships, which is described as one of the most interesting portions of the speech. Neutral circles in Berlin considered the speech an outright rejection of Admiral Raeder’s warning and also thought the speech much stronger than, expected. France. In Vichy a French Government spokesman said: “Mr. Roosevelt's speech was received calmly because there seemed to be no reason to believe that the United States would take action against Dakar or other parts of the French Empire. The United States would take action if Germany tried to take Dakar, but Germany has not asked for such bases and France won’t give them. The French Empire will he defended against any challenge from any quarter.” Portugal. The Timos Lisbon correspondent, says Portugal’s attitude to Mr. Roosevelt’s reference Io a German threat to the azores and Cape Verde is that the neutrality of these territories can be safely left to Portugal, who has been steadily reinforcing colonial garrisons during the last three months. New Zealand. (From the N.Z.E.F. Officials News Service.) Cairo, May 29. Commenting on President Roosevelt’s speech, the Hon. P. Fraser. Prime Minister of New Zealand, who is in Egypt, said: “President Roosevelt's forthright speecn, containing as it does a clear declaration of (ichnite and effective hostility to the Nazi and Axis threats and a determination to give even more pronounced and extended material support to the United Kingdom, the British Dominions and all the other countries lighting for democratic freedom, is heartily welcomed by New Zealand and all New Zealanders at Home and tn the field. His deliberate and determined words have reverberated around the world and have roused a ready response in the hearts of all who value liberty and everything that enables life and human relationships between men. and nations. With such effective assistance our cause, in spite of any temporary difficulties, is assured of decisive victory.”