The Waikato Times. AMERICA DISOWNS APPEASEMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21244, 15 October 1940, Page 4

The Waikato Times. AMERICA DISOWNS APPEASEMENT

Even if, in British countries, there were no bias in favour cf the united States, no ardent desire for assistance from that country. President Roosevelt’s Columbus Day speech would still be regarded as admirably honest and full of common morality. It stands in stark Contrast to the utterances of the dictators, who have sought to impose a new and barbaric way of life on a confused world. It is “ oldfashioned ” and humane and strikes a responsive chord in the hearts of men who know they are sane and who are certain that their faith in the eternal verities is unshakably sound. Roosevelt’s reasoning is like the calm voice of a sane man rising above the babel of maniacs. And it is the voice of authority as well as of reason. He has left no room for doubt where the great American nation stands. Public opinion in the United States, if it is represented by the President, has travelled far and fast since the war began. The doctrine of appeasement is as dead in America as it is in Britain because the Americans have realised that it has been a powerful weapon in the hands of an unscrupulous enemy. Germany has used a long series of appeasements as stepping stones to acts of the most blatant violence. Now Mr Roosevelt says Americans recognise appeasement for what it is—a major weapon of aggressor nations. That is an important achievement in American foreign policy, and proof has come quickly that it is being put into practice. Mr Roosevelt has flatly refused to offer concessions to appease the lust of Germany, Italy and Japan. On the contrary, he has told them in plain terms that every right will be defended strenuously. “ Our course is clear and our decision is made,” Mr Roosevelt said. “We will continue to pile up our defence and our armaments. We will continue to help those who resist aggression and who now hold the aggressors far from our shores. Let no American accept assurances that we are immune. It can no longer be disputed that the forces of evil which are bent on the conquest of the world will destroy whomever they can destroy.” Having made that decision the United States must adopt the method best suited to her defence, and in that regard there is no room for argument that she must support Britain as the outer bulwark of the way of life for which America stands.

If the Axis hoped to interfere in the United States presidential election by forcing public opinion against intervention in the war it seems to have failed dismally. The result has, in fact, been the reverse. Both presidential candidates have been given cause to warn the American people against the machinations of the dictators, and the threats which were intended to cause panic have only succeeded in bringing a realisation of their own danger to all Americans. Japan has been brought face to face with a reality which she probably did not expect. The Japanese Prime Minister has told his people that Japan is facing a “ great turning point,” and there is reason to believe that the Japanese aro beginning to wonder in which direction they have turned.