DANGERS PERCEIVED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1940, Page 5

DANGERS PERCEIVED

MR CORDELL HULL ON AXIS AIMS MENACE TO ALL FREE NATIONS NEED OF AN IMPREGNABLE DEFENCE. 1 ALL POSSIBLE AMERICAN AID J FOR BRITAIN. j (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, October 26. 1 The Secretary of State, Sir Cordell Hull, surveying world r developments in a speech at i the National Press Club, said: t ‘‘Only once previously has , such grave danger threatened this nation. Today all s peaceful nations, including ' the United States, are gravely menaced. The danger arises from the acts of a small group of national rulers who have transformed their peoples into forceful instruments for widespread domination by conquest.” Mr. Hull reviewed the decade beginning with the Japanese attack on Manchuria. “The tragedy of the present world situation lies in the fact that the peacefully disposed nations failed to recognise in time the true nature of the aims of the rulers of heavily-armed nations,” he said. “They were lulled into a false sense of security by the assurance given by these rulers that their aims were limited. “The rulers of these nations violated the principles of peaceful and orderly international relations with a merciless armed attack. Unrestrained terrorisation through the slaughter of women and children, deceit, fraud, guile, forced labour and confiscation of property were weapons constantly used by the conquerors. They adhere to no geographical lines and disregard every right of neutrals. Their fixed objectives include the securing of control of , the high seas. OCEANS ARE HIGHWAYS. “Let nobody comfort himself with the delusion that these are mere excesses of war which will be voluntarily suspended when fighting ceases. There is nothing more dangerous for our nation than the assumption that the avalanche of conquest could in no circumstances reach any vital point in this hemisphere. The oceans give this hemisphere no guarantee against the possibility of economic, political or military attack. Oceans are' barriers, but they are also highways. “Should the conquerors gain control of other continents they would next concentrate on perfecting their control of the seas, of the air over the seas and of the world’s economy. They might then strike at the communication lines and the commercial life of this hemisphere, and ultimately we might find ourselves compelled to fight on our own soil for the defences of our independence and our very lives. SOME GOVERNING FACTS. “These are some of the governing facts of the present situation. These are the dangers which must be recognised, as the present wars are not local and regional wars, but organised and determined movements for steadily expanding conquest. “The first need for all nations still the masters of their destiny is to create as speedily and completely as possible an impregnable means of defence. In view of the unprecedented character of the menacing developments abroad, we have frankly recognised the danger involved. “As an important means of l strengthening our own defence and preventing i an attack anywhere in the hemisphere, i the United States is affording all ‘ feasible facilities for obtaining supplies by nations which, while defending themselves against barbaric attack, are checking the spread of violence and thus reducing the danger for us. We intend to continue this to the greatest practicable extent. “The dangers confronting us are not of our making. We cannot know where or when we may possibly be attacked. We can, however, be prepared.” PLAIN WARNING GIVEN TO THE PETAIN GOVERNMENT. OPERATION OF HAVANA CONVENTION WASHINGTON, October 27. Mr. Cordell Hull, in his speech, Indicated that President Roosevelt had warned the Petain Government that over-close military collaboration with Germany would bring occupation of Martinique and French Guiana by the American Republics, operating under the Havana Convention. Should the Germans be given the use of French naval and air bases throughout the French Empire, it is believed the convention would be operated by a provisional regime established to ensure that Germany did not make belligerent use of French stations in the Western Hemisphere.