RUTHLESS FORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 September 1941, Page 5

RUTHLESS FORCE

“The unrestricted submarine warfare of 1941 constitutes a defiance against that historic American policy. It is now clear that Hitler has begun a campaign to control the seas by ruthless force and by wiping out every vestige of international law and humanity. “The attack on the Greer was a determined step toward creating a permanent world system based on force, terror and murder, and I am sure the Nazis are now waiting to see whether the United States will be silent and give them the green light to go ahead on this path of destruction. The time has now come for us to say: ‘You shall go no further.’ The normal practices of diplomacy—Note-writing—are no possible use in dealing with the international outlaws who sink our ships and kill our citizens.

“One peaceful nation after another has met with disaster because it has refused to look the Nazi danger squarely in the eye. The United States will not make that fatal mistake. No act of violence or intimidation will keep us from maintaining the two bulwarks of our defence: First, our line of supply of material to the enemies of Hitler; and, second, freedom for our shipping on the high seas. No matter what it takes, no matter what it costs, we will keep open our line of legitimate commerce in these defensive waters.

“We have sought no shooting war with Hitler, and we don’t seek it now; but neither do we want peace so much that we are willing to pay for it by permitting him to attack our naval and merchant ships while they are on legitimate business.