PRESIDENT PLEASED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 January 1941, Page 5

PRESIDENT PLEASED

WITH RECEPTION OF SPEECH THOUSANDS OF TELEGRAMS SENT IN. NINETY-NINE PER CENT FAVOURABLE. )By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright' WASHINGTON. December 30. President Roosevelt's secretary at the White House announced that the President was tremendously pleased with the reception of his speech, especially the fact that it was approved by some of the Republican leaders. Thousands of telegrams were sent to Mr Roosevelt after his speech. 99 per cent of them being favourable. Mr Roosevelt said his plan to lend or lease arms to Britain might easily be expanded to include raw materials as well as munitions of war. He saici the basic idea was to develop a replacement policy that could be decided upon by the two friendly nations. He said that tin and rubber, which the United States needs, might figure in the deals for arms. For example, the United States might give Britain aeroplanes and take rubber and tin in future for repayment. He said the whole plan, however, would not be put into effect till Congress acted on it. He said he wished someone could tell him how to write legislation covering such a plan. For example, he wanted someone to tell him how the United States could send three antiaircraft guns to Britain and get three guns back, the whole transfer to be done legally within legislation passed by Congress. One gun. for instance, might never be fired, another might be used and need relining when returned and the third might be hit by a bomb and require complete replacement. Mr Roosevelt, in reply to a question, said the United States was not negotiating with or planning to ask Eire to open her ports and bases to Britain. He refused to enlarge on the reference to Eire he made in his speech. The Secretary of the Treasury, Mr Morgenthau, indicated that Mr Roosevelt's loan or lease plan for Britain may be extended to any country fightdig aggression, such as Greece and China, so far as production facilities allowed. He pointed out that the Chinese had been discussing with the treasury the possibility of shipments of planes for China, but Mr Morgenthati remarked that there was just not enough to go round.

MINORITY OPINION

CRITICISM IN U.S.A. ADVOCATES OF NEGOTIATED PEACE. SENATOR WHEELER'S RADIO BROADCAST. WASHINGTON, December 30. Senator Wheeler, speaking on the radio, said; “The I idled States is no longer trudging along the road to war—we are running. If we lend or lease war materials today we will lend or lease American hots tomorrow.'' Senator Wheeler again proposed to lead a campaign for a negotaited peace. He outlined the basis of what he considered a just peace, proposing eight points, namely, first, the restoration of Germany's 1914 boundaries, with an autonomous Poland and Czechoslovakia: secondly, the restoratoin and independence of France. Holland. Norway. Belgium and Denmark; thirdly, the restoration of Alsace Lorraine to France; fourthly, the restoration of the German colonies; fifthly, the protection of racial and religious minorities in all countries; the internationalisation of the Suez Canal; seventhly, no indemnities or reparations; eighthly, arms limitation. Senator Holt told the Senate that the Administration strategy was to provoke the Axis to declare war against the United Slates, He said the drive to war was not based on a desire to protect democracy, but on the cold, almighty dollar. General Robert Wood, chairman of the America First Committee, said Mr. Roosevelt’s speech was "virtually' a personal declaration of undeclared war against Germany.” He said it was time for the Administration to make clear to Britain that the American people in aiding Britain would stop before methods meaning war. “By rejecting a negotiated peace Mr. Roosevelt has taken on himself a large share of the responsibility for the continuation of the war," he added.

MR FRASER'S COMMENT

BELIEVERS IN DEMOCRACY HEARTENED AN INSPIRING STATEMENT. OUTLOOK IN THE PACIFIC IMPROVED (By Telegraph, Press ,V.-w-laiioii 1 WELLINGTON. Tim; Dav. ■■pro.Hdciit Roosevelt’s inspiring! statement will hearten every believer ; m democracy' throughout the world." said the Prime Minister of New Zea-1 land. Mr. Fraser, in commentm;; or. Mr R;•' broadeir ‘ fiddrt-s--. Ims performed a magnificent; a;, j in calling f>>r a realistic attitude amir,;’ h:s pe<-r.le toward the menace: which threatens the American omtin-i -my other re-1 ' The infiuem-e <<f the United States, j with its va-.’ tes.iurce.'. : to be thrown} with still greatet vigour on '. ■ the : uh- : of the Britsh Commonwealth, and with the aid of thh ’great arsental of de-| m-erary’ vwtory o<.<-r the aggre'--' r < nat:• -ns doubly assured. "We in New Zealand have particular i l;cv as de mi* d by* the President I Hr, w--rd’. p.ovKjc a ;:-<,v.-crfu 1 contri- ■ d mml !<• - W'dh J r<mfidi’m-e to eoneentraU* our wholej lij - n :>•<• 'r-uggh- -• !k>- :”-i.n j 'Mr P. ■o-v-’.t hr;. i< ;: ed • ■ tlic ’ cl'..:-."y :hr«t ■ - As.. P-.w>'-r’.

again the United Stalo; in the mt!) I r: = ■ av, by making it abundant 1 y intimidatrng tlie Americtm jjeoplc, but n ■ ;i . nrthenmg till farther th.m de‘.<■:::::*.at;- n t" give <-vvr mcre;ro-d maienat mil ■ those at gripe; ith the btillhw Hi-i re;-u-initn,.:i of the idea - f a;;--* -.-u: r.:thi<- • m-m and in- bold ,j: d:(■’ment of Nazi'm are moral blow* shrrwrsly ami jAuwcrfully delivered ■ "!’!■■- tm.viy aid winch the Ur.;■<-■> S'a'., . has rmid<-r<-d so far. ist d tin - ; T‘ ■ miw" f vast, suppam and -p«-<-<!y d«.-;:v- -- t'c’-nb'd Mr F: a •■■ r. - • ■ ■ ■ ■ i ■ : net-re tied lasting gra'i C: mmonwealth