F. D. R. Speech Announcer: We interrupt you regular broadcasting, for an urgent word from your president. F. D.
R. : Good evening fellow Americans. I speak to you tonight about an urgent issue. I have recently met with my council and advisors on the events in Europe. Japan, Germany and Italy have become , in the fight to defeat our ally, Great Britain. Together the axis powers have over-thrown much of Western Europe.
We have passed the ‘cash-and-carry’ on order to help Great Britain, by supplying when with weapon and such needed for their win. Recently, Britain has run out of cash to pay for our supplies. I have been informed that it may not be possibly for America to remain neutral in this war. In case of the axis powers defeating Great Britain; it is possibly that they may not stop there. There is a chance that Germany, Japan and Italy will extend their fight to the western hemisphere, capturing the US into their power and over-throwing democracy. We, the American people can not sit back and watch these three nations over-power this continent or the continent of Europe.
We must fight for our people. We must fight for democracy. These axis powers are three powerful armies combined, and it is our belief that Great Britain can not defeat them single-handedly. We have tried to remain neutral and only supply Britain with supplies, as long as they pay cash and carry it home on their own ships. Now, this is not longer possible. German U-boats are constantly attacking Britain’s supply ships, preventing supplies from getting there.
Also, Britain no longer has the money to pay for these supplies. In entering this war, we could help Great Britain defeat these three powerful nations, and prevent the Untied States from future threat. In current meetings with advisors a plan has been made to ease the US into this war. Over a year ago, a selective training and service act was signed, established a peacetime draft, in preparation for this time. Germany has conquered many countries in Western Europe, including: Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland and France. Soon after Italy joined Germany in the fight to take over Europe, Romania, Greece and Yugoslavia fell into the hands of Hitler and Mussolini.
In January of this year, the Lend-Lease Act was passed. This allows the United States the right to sell or lend war materials to countries fighting Germany, Japan and Italy. In result, over fifty billion dollars in weapons, ammunition, vehicles and other supplies have gone to support the allied war effort. Almost a month ago, The Atlantic Charter was pledged with Great Britain. If we were to enter this war, this document states that we agree to the following: (1) seek no territorial expansion, (2) pursue no territorial changed without the consent of the inhabitants, (3) respect the right of people to choose their own form of government, (4) promote free trade among nations, (5) encourage international cooperation to improve people’s lives, (6) build a secure peace based on freedom from want and fear, (7) work for disarmament of aggressors, (8) establish a ‘permanent system of general security’.
On September 12 th, a German U-boat fired two torpedoes at one of our destroyers, the Greer. Most recently Germany has attacked Russia, hoping to gain another victory. The Germans have now invaded several hundred miles inside the borders of Russia. Let us help Britain and other European countries once again in their defeat of the axis powers. These events have given the United States a relevant situation to enter the war. We are in the process of making the next step and have decided to enter this war.
Our military is now ready to fight for democracy in Europe, and we plan to put them to the test by defeating Japan, Germany and Italy, while preserving democracy. In our entering of this war, America will be achieving many goals. We would be preserving democracy and relieving America of the threat to be attack and eventually having to enter the war. We could prevent this war from coming onto our territory by entering it sooner. Also, it is our duty to live up to the promises we have made to our allies in Europe.
We, the American people, can not let the enemy eventually control all of Europe and risk the possibility the axis powers wanted to invade the western hemisphere. In the entering of this war, it would establish a war-time economy, freeing American people from this economic depression. It has been almost twelve years that we have suffered from these economic changes. It is time for the Untied States to enter this war. Germany, Japan and Italy have done enough damage to Europe, we will not sit back and watch them destroy democracy.
We have done our best to remain neutral in the events happening in Europe, but it time to change our perspective. It has been decided that the United States will enter the war in Europe and help the British defeat the axis powers. The United States has done all that we can to help Great Britain in their fight, but there is no more that can be done without joining them in this war. Germany, Japan and Italy have gone too far, the have invaded much of Western Europe and will not stop there.
Eventually they will over-throw all of Europe and move on to the western hemisphere. In order to preserve democracy, we must join Great Britain in their struggle. Let us be prepared for the defeat of the axis powers and preserve democracy for all time. Thank you for you time. I appreciate all of the support that has been shown throughout these past months, and I assure you that we will not let any nation take away our freedom.