ILLUSION GONE

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21601, 11 December 1941, Page 5

ILLUSION GONE

MR ROOSEVELT’S SPEECH LONG AND HARD WAR CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON. Dec. 9 ! President Roosevelt, in his broadcast to the nation tonight, said: “We must begin the great task that is before us by abandoning once and for all the illusion that we can ever again isolate ourselves from the rest of humanity. . “The news so far has been all bad, and a serious setback has been sufI fered at Hawaii. Reports from Guam, .Wake and Midway Islands are con- ! fused, but we must be prepared for an announcement that all have been seized.” Mr Roosevelt said it was intended to increase production by the institution of a seven-day week, the construction of new factories and the enlargement. of old ones.

“We have known for weeks that Germany has been telling Japan that Japan would not share in the spoils after the war unless she attacked the United States,” the President said. “Germany promised Japan perpetual full control of the Pacific, including a stranglehold on the west coast of North and South America. Germany and Japan are conducting - military and naval operations in accordance to a joint plan. Germany and Italy, regardless of formal declarations, consider themselves at war against the Americas.

Will Eliminate Japan

“We intend to eliminate Japan, but it would serve us but ill if we then found that the rest of the world was dominated by Hitler and Mussolini. Japan’s attack on America fits in the pattern of the Axis attempt at world domination.”

Mr Roosevelt said America’s wartime policy had been justified, because it had gained precious months in which to prepare defences. The war would be long and hard. The Pearl Harbour type of attack could be repeated in both oceans or on both coasts. “We shall need, and shall demand, more money and materials, and quadrupled production,” Mr Roosevelt continued. “Lend-lease aid must continue to reinforce the other opponents of Japan and Germany. “There is no shortage of food, although there will be a definite shortage of many civilian commodities. “The United States can accept no result but final and complete victory. We are going to win the war, and win the peace.” Reactions to Speech The first reactions to Mr Roosevelt’s speech in Washington are that it was one of the most compelling and vital speeches the President has ever made. The speech is considered to have prepared the way for the breakingoff of relations with the Axis capitals. “The speech has left no American with any delusions about the long and hard road he will have to travel,” states Reuter’s correspondent in Washington. “Satisfaction is felt that labour is expected to buckle down to a seven-day week.”