HOPE FOR PEACE

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21599, 9 December 1941, Page 5

HOPE FOR PEACE

MR ROOSEVELT’S PLEA MESSAGE TO EMPEROR REMOVAL OF THREAT (United Truss K'n-nnr. Tpl Cnnvrlfftu WASHINGTON. Dec. 7 The text of President Roosevelt’ message to the Emperor of Japai was as follows: "The people of th United States hoped for the termina tion of the Sino-Japanese conflic and peace in the Pacific, enabling it many diverse peoples to exist sid by side without fear of invasion They also hoped for the alleviatioi of the armaments burden and th resumption of commerce. “I am certain it will be clear t Your Majesty, as it is to me, tha America and Japan, in seeking thes objectives, should agree to eliminat any form of military threat. “During the past few weeks it ha become clear that Japanese force have been sent to Indo-China ii such large numbers as to create ;

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT reasonable doubt that the concentration is not defensive in character. “It is now only reasonable that the people of the Philippines, the East Indies, Malaya and Thailand are asking vheihcr Japan is preparing an attack. “Keg of Dynamite” “1 am sure Your Majesty understands that such fear is legitimate. I am also sure you understand why the people of the United States look askance at the establishment of bases capable of offence. It is clear that the continuance of such a situation is unthinkable. People cannot sit permanently on a keg of dynamite. There is absolutely no thought by the United States of invading IndoChina, if every Japanese soldier and sailor were withdrawn from there. I have no doubt the East Indies, Thailand, China and Malaya would undertake to refrain from invading Indo-China if the Japanese troops were withdrawn, thus assuring peace in the South Pacific.

“I hope Your Majesty will give thought in this emergency to ways of dispelling the dark clouds. I am confident that both of us, for the sake of our own peoples and of humanity, have a sacred duty to restore traditional amity and prevent further death and destruction.”