PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S EXPECTED SPEECH

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1941, Page 5

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S EXPECTED SPEECH

No Question to Remain Unanswered SOME TALK OF ABANDONING NEUTRALITY ACT DRASTIC POLICY CHANGES FORECASTED Lt )N I)().\, September 11. President Roosevelt, in his broadcast tonight, is expected to give cold, hard facts about the international crisis and will leave no question unanswered. Part of his speech will deal with aid to Russia. His speech, it is stated, will be written in English and will not need translating. President Roosevelt arrived from Hyde Park and immediately conferred with the Secretary of State, Mr Hull, the War Secretary, Mr Stimson, and the Navy Secretary, Colonel Knox. It is expected that the President’s speech on Thursday night will announce steps taking the United States closer to war, such as the abandonment of the 'Neutrality Act, the convoying of ships everywhere and firing on all enemy craft. Mr Roosevelt also may ask for up to 6,000,000,000 dollars additional lendlease funds. The “New York Times’’ Washington correspondent says the President next week will ask Congress to repeal the Neutrality Act. He will receive congressional leaders, including Republicans, tomorrow and inform them of far-reaching steps he plans to take to meet the crisis, which many persons think bears a close parallel to that of the spring of 1917. Observers predict that in his broadcast Mr Roosevelt will announce drastic changes in America’s Atlantic patrol policy. Some expect him to direct American ships to sink on sight any hostile submarines or aircraft discovered in the sea-lanes between America and Iceland.