America at war! (1941– ) (Part 1)

[NormanStewart]

Roosevelt gives pledge of total war against Axis

U.S. will win war and peace, President says, at the same time warning that both coasts are in immediate danger of raids
By Lyle C. Wilson, United Press staff writer

President Roosevelt at the microphone in the Oval Room at the White House

‘Reject all rumors’

WASHINGTON (UP) – The commander in chief to all Americans: “Most earnestly I urge my countrymen to reject all rumors. These ugly little hints of complete disaster fly thick and fast in wartime. They have to be examined and appraised… Many rumors and reports which we now hear originate with enemy sources… The purposes of such fantastic claims are, of course, to spread fear and confusion among us, and to goad us into revealing military information which our enemies are desperately anxious to obtain.”

WASHINGTON (UP) – President Roosevelt’s analysis of the pattern of world conflict placed the United States today in a state of informal war with Germany and Italy.

Although formally engaged in war against only Japan, the president promised to fight the Axis “with everything we’ve got.”

Foreign dispatches hinted that a German declaration of war against the United States was forthcoming. Mr. Roosevelt warned of the real and immediate danger of a sneak punch – like that which rocked Pearl Harbor – on both our coasts, Atlantic or Pacific.

Other advices here suggested that Adolf Hitler might prefer for the time being to avoid actual war with the United States.

But in a war report to the nation that made previous fireside chats seem of small consequence in comparison, Mr. Roosevelt last night blunted no words in saying that we are in a fight for our collective lives – and that we will win the war, and the peace to follow.

The president’s warning that “Germany and Italy… consider themselves at war with the United States at this moment” brought from congressmen the comment that it was a “realistic recognition” of the facts.

Speaker Sam Rayburn, D-Texas, sounded the tenor of general congressional comment with: “Of course, we all think that Germany and Italy are going to follow the Japanese as brothers in this Axis agreement.”

Mr. Rayburn has said that Congress would declare war on Germany and Italy as quickly as it did against Japan if those two countries decide to attack the United States.

Of what has happened in the Pacific, Mr. Roosevelt said: “So far, the news is all bad. Casualty lists will be large.”

Acknowledging a “serious setback in Hawaii” and that the country must be prepared to hear that Midway, Wake and Guam Islands have been captured, he declared there was no impregnable defense against blows without warning and urged the public, the press, and the radio to wait for the facts.

“Most earnestly,” the president continued, “I urge my fellow countrymen to reject all rumors. These ugly little hints of complete disaster fly thick and fast in wartime.”

Aimed at spreading fear

He said the enemy spread many a rumor to create fear and confusion among the public and to goad the government to denials and admissions of information eagerly sought in Axis capitals.

Mr. Roosevelt said he did not yet know the “exact damage” at Pearl Harbor but that “admittedly the damage is serious.” He dismissed as “fantastic” claims that Japan had gained naval control of the Pacific.

Mr. Roosevelt denounced Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese warlords. He left no doubt that the war – the all-out, total, world war – is on, with Great Britain and her Dominions, the Soviet Union, the United States and associated powers on one side, and the Axis on the other – all of the Axis.

‘Resourceful gangsters’

Mr. Roosevelt said:

Remember always that Germany and Italy, regardless of any formal declaration of war, consider themselves at war with the United States at this moment just as much as they consider themselves at war with Britain and Russia. And Germany puts all the other republics of America into the same category of enemies.

Powerful and resourceful gangsters have banded together to make war upon the whole human race. Their challenge has now been flung at the United States.

We must be set to face a long war. The attack on Pearl Harbor can be repeated at any one of many points in both oceans and along both our coastlines against all the rest of the hemisphere.

‘Not immune from attack’

Our ocean-girt hemisphere is not immune from severe attack.

Your government knows that for weeks Germany has been telling Japan that if Japan did not attack the United States, Japan would not share in dividing the spoils with Germany when peace came. She was promised by Germany that if she came in, she would receive the complete and perpetual control of the whole Pacific area – and that means not only the Far East, not only the islands in the Pacific, but also a stranglehold on the west coast of North, Central, and South America.

We also know that Germany and Japan are conducting their military and naval operations in accordance with a joint plan. That plan considers all peoples and nations which are not helping the Axis powers as common enemies of each and every one of the Axis powers.

That is their simple and obvious grand strategy.

‘Final and complete victory’

So, Mr. Roosevelt said he had accepted the challenge and that we would accept no result except victory, final and complete. We are in the war, he explained, not for conquest or for vengeance, but for a world in which our children will be safe. He said we expected to eliminate the danger from Japan, but that Hitler and Mussolini must go too.

He compared the actions of Japan in Asia and of Hitler and Mussolini in Europe and Africa for ten years past and said:

It is all of one pattern.

Without warning – without warning – without warning.

10-year history cited

Again and again, Mr. Roosevelt repeated that phrase as he cited surprise attacks by the Axis powers on peaceful nations – Manchukuo, Ethiopia, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Greece, Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union and finally, last weekend, Malaya, Thailand, and the United States. His quick recapitulation covered 10 explosive years, 1931-41.

Mr. Roosevelt said of the Japanese attack in the Pacific:

We may acknowledge that our enemies have performed a brilliant feat of deception, perfectly timed and executed with great skill. It was a thoroughly dishonorable deed, but we must face the fact that modern warfare as conducted in the Nazi manner is a dirty business.

We don’t like it – we didn’t want to get in it – but we are in it, and we’re going to fight it with everything we’ve got.

‘We’re in it all the way’

We are now in this war. We are all in it – all the way. Every single man, woman, and child is a partner in the most tremendous undertaking of our American history. We must share together the bad news and the good news, the defeats and the victories – the changing fortunes of war.

He promised to give the facts to the public as fast as they became available, provided first that a complete check be made on their accuracy and, second, that release of the information would not prove valuable to the enemy.

‘A trick of propaganda’

He said:

Many rumors and reports which we now hear originate with enemy sources. For instance, today the Japanese are claiming that they have gained naval supremacy in the Pacific. This is an old trick of propaganda which has been used innumerable times by the Nazis. The purposes of such fantastic claims are, of course, to spread fear and confusion among us, and to goad us into revealing military information which our enemies are desperately anxious to obtain.

Explaining that we will continue to supply other armies, navies and air forces fighting the Axis, Mr. Roosevelt said he had adopted two broad production principles:

• A seven-day workweek in war industry and in the production of essential raw materials.

• Expansion of production capacity by building new plants, expanding old plants, and using many small plants.

Enough food ‘at present’

He promised that the road to victory in the war and the peace to follow was one of hard, grueling, day-and-night work. But he found comfort in confidence that the nation was united at last, that “the obstacles and difficulties, divisions and disputes, indifference and callousness are now all past – and, I am sure, forgotten.”

There is enough food “at present,” he assured the nation, to provide amply here and to leave much left over for export to less-favored partners in the anti-Axis drive.

No sacrifice would be felt or resented, Mr. Roosevelt was sure, by men privileged to serve in the Army, by citizens burdened with mounting taxes, or by those who must forego extra profits or curtail their manner of living. But he warned that there was a bitter shortage of metal and that half of the vital metals used for civilian consumption this year would have to be diverted to the war effort from now on.

Terrible lesson learned

But it was guns-and-butter for us in contrast to the guns-before-butter that Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and militaristic Japan have had to endure.

In ten years of observing and patiently and peacefully opposing aggression, Mr. Roosevelt said he had learned a terrible lesson, the worst part of it, perhaps, in the past three days since war flamed in the Pacific. He promised that we shall not forget that there can be no security in a gangster-ruled world, that there is no impregnable defense against blows without warning, that our own hemisphere, our own coastal cities and towns are now in jeopardy and, finally, “that modern warfare as conducted in the Nazi manner is a dirty business.”

Congressional comment backs president’s speech

WASHINGTON (UP) – Speaker Sam Rayburn, D-Texas, said today that President Roosevelt’s statement last night that Germany and Italy consider themselves at war with the United States was “a very frank, lucid statement.”

Mr. Rayburn said:

Of course, we all think that Germany and Italy are going to follow the Japanese as brothers in this Axis agreement. The president in his address took the American people into his confidence and let them know that we have a big and hard job before us.

Sen. Styles Bridges, R-New Hampshire, said the speech was a “clear analysis” of the situation, carrying a warning that the nation “must be prepared for any emergency in the Atlantic.” Mr. Bridges said he would not be surprised by a German declaration of war against the United States.

Senate Democratic leader Alben W. Barkley, D-Kentucky, said the speech was “a very frank and able presentation.” Chairman Tom Connally, D-Texas, of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee called the address “brave and vigorous, voicing the determination of the nation and all our people to prosecute the war with every ounce of our strength.”

Other comments:

“The president assured the country that we are going to not only win the war, but the peace.”
– Sen. Claude Pepper, D-Florida

“The president has spoken for the country. He must have had strong reasons for all of the statements he made.”
– Sen. Walter F. George, D-Georgia

“Mr. Roosevelt gave the nation every bit of information he would have been entitled to give.”
– Sen. Lister Hill, D-Alabama

“The president’s call for all-out effort for complete production from the vast American production machine is particularly deserving of a cordial, cooperative response.”
– House Republican Leader Joseph W. Martin, R-Massachusetts

“What I am interested in is whether we’re going to have a war resolution against them.”
– Rep. Hamilton Fish, R-New York, agreeing that Germany and Italy consider themselves at war with the United States

“There can be no shadow of a doubt as to what the nation’s response will be to the speech.”
– Chairman Sol Bloom, D-New York, of the House Foreign Relations Committee

French impressed by U.S. war unity

By Paul Ghali

VICHY, France – President Roosevelt’s broadcast to the American people Tuesday night was only heard here at 5 a.m. today (10 p.m. Tuesday ET), which means that few reactions are as yet available in Vichy. The full text of his speech is known only to a few officials whose lips are diplomatically sealed.

The president has, however, impressed his few French listeners with the fact that the war against the Axis is an “American national war” and that he had complete national unity behind him.

Vichy circles have undoubtedly been struck by the Japanese successes in the first few days of the war which give definite proof that the attacks were well prepared. This feeling was emphasized by the reports that the British battleships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse had been sunk.

President Roosevelt’s decision to round up German and Italian nationals in the United States will, it is believed here, have quick repercussions among the Americans still in occupied France. According to a U.S. embassy source, these Americans number approximately 700. Whether the Germans will apply an eye-for-an-eye policy, or whether only the most prominent Americans will be interned remains to be seen.

What will happen when Germany sides with Japan is in the laps of the gods. Japanese correspondents in Vichy are insistent that this eventuality may crop up in the next 24 hours and that a common German-Italian declaration is in the air, although nobody knows whether it will be a formal declaration of war or only declarations of sympathy for Japan.

Rome expects Axis to act in unity

NEW YORK (UP) – The Rome radio, commenting on President Roosevelt’s speech last night, said today that it was “of such a manner that the functioning of the Three-Power Pact may be expected,” according to NBC’s listening post.

The Three-Power Pact is the Berlin-Rome military alliance under which Germany and Italy are pledged to go to the aid of Japan in the event she was “attacked” in the Pacific. The Rome broadcast was a further forecast of German and Italian declarations of war against the United States.

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Britain’s Far Eastern Fleet obliterated, Tokyo claims

U.S. sub and transport sunk, Japs say, admitting loss of 38 airplanes
By the United Press

Japanese Imperial Headquarters, announcing that Japanese airplanes had sunk the British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse, asserted today that the British Far Eastern Fleet had been obliterated.

The British Admiralty admitted the sinkings of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse.

The Mikado, in a special message of felicitation to Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto, commander in chief of the Combined Fleet, congratulated him on the outstanding results of the “great naval war in the Pacific against Great Britain and the United States.”

Claim U.S. sub sunk

It was asserted that a U.S. submarine had been sunk east of the Philippines.

Japanese Imperial Headquarters asserted that in a dawn attack today, Japanese troops had landed on Luzon, principal island of the Philippines, and that operations were proceeding rapidly. Manila, officially admitting Jap landings in northern Luzon, said a landing attempt on the west coast was repulsed.

Tokyo quoted Lt. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, U.S. commander-in-chief in the Far East, as admitting in a broadcast from Manila that the Japanese had succeeded in effecting landings at certain points north of Manila despite resistance of the Philippine forces.

Report U.S. transport sunk

An official German news agency’s Shanghai dispatch said Japanese planes attacked Manila at 12:45 p.m. today (11:45 p.m. Tuesday ET) and dropped bombs on harbor works near Santiago, where ships were gathered in the harbor.

Tokyo’s high command said Japanese planes heavily attacked Nichols Field at Manila, destroying hangars, barracks and runways, and that submarines had sunk a 15,000-ton American transport in Manila Bay. Southwards of Hong Kong, it was added, a British armed merchantman was captured.

The Tokyo Foreign Office said Switzerland had agreed to represent American interests in Japan.

Japs admit 38 planes lost

Imperial Headquarters said the Japanese Navy had lost 38 planes since the outbreak of the war and admitted loss of two transports and damage to two others.

The Japanese Army admitted loss of 13 planes.

Asserting that no enemy planes had yet appeared over Japan, Tokyo warned that bombings must be expected, the BBC reported in a broadcast heard by CBS.

Tokyo said the announcement of the sinking of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse caused wild excitement all over Japan as it was flashed over all radio networks.

Tokyo hails news

At Tokyo street intersections, pedestrians scrambled for extra editions of newspapers, it was said, and jammed in front of newspapers to read electric signboards announcing the news.

Tokyo officials denied reports that a Japanese aircraft carrier had been sunk off Hawaii and they suggested that perhaps the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (19,900 tons) had been seen sinking after having suffered hits by Japanese bombs. No formal claim to destruction of the Enterprise was made and Imperial Headquarters did not indicate where Japanese transports had been lost and damaged.

Japanese Army headquarters in Bangkok were reported to have assured nationals of India, Malaya, Burma, China and other Asiatic countries that they had nothing to fear from Japanese troops in Thailand unless they attempted to leave the country, in which case they would be treated as enemies.

It was asserted that the American submarine was sunk Monday off northern New Guinea, south of the Philippines, after it had left Manila apparently on its way to Japanese waters.

Land in Philippines, Japs say

One dispatch regarding the American submarine sinking claim said it was destroyed off the Japanese-mandated Palau Islands, in the Carolina group east of the Philippines and north of New Guinea.

Japanese Imperial Headquarters, announcing the Philippines invasion attempt, said that after a dawn landing, “rapid operations continue.”

Japan also said that its troops had landed in Guam, one of the three U.S. Pacific outpost islands which it had attacked.

Radio Rome reported that two American merchantmen, carrying material to the Far East, had been sunk after attempting to turn back to the U.S. West Coast.

Roosevelt, Churchill to meet?

Radio Rome also said it had “learned” that President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill planned to meet soon to discuss the present situation. Another Rome dispatch reported that the President had sought the meeting.

Berlin’s radio reported that six of eight U.S. battleships at Hawaii had been put out of action – USS Oklahoma and USS West Virginia sunk and four others damaged.

Claims 25 U.S. planes

Radio Tokyo, announcing the Japanese attempt to invade the Philippines, quoted a joint communique by the army and navy sections of Imperial Headquarters, thus disclosing the combined army and navy operation.

Tokyo also asserted that 25 American planes had been shot down and 75 destroyed aground in an attack on the Army’s largest Philippine airfield, apparently Clark Field.

Japanese reports indicated that of the three American mid-Pacific islands, both Guam and Wake had now been occupied by Japanese troops and said that Midway, the third, was under heavy fire by warships.

Captured Marines arrive

The Japanese denied reports that Tokyo and Formosa, the Japanese island off the China coast, had been bombed, and said not a single plane had been seen over Jap territory.

It was added that precautionary “light control” was being effected in key Japanese cities, but no complete blackouts had been ordered.

Berlin reported that U.S. Marines, captured by the Japanese in northern China, had arrived in Tokyo as prisoners.

Radio Rome quoted Tokyo as appealing by radio to South American nations to remain neutral, that “they have no interest whatsoever in the Far Eastern conflict.”

Claim Hong Kong isolated

Japanese broadcasts continued to assert that Japanese troops were marching southward toward Singapore from Thailand and said that Hong Kong was now completely isolated.

Shanghai reporters said Japanese planes had started a heavy attack against Chinese troop concentrations in southern China.

Japanese dispatches reported that a new agreement had been signed between Japan and Vichy authorities of French Indochina, providing for detailed “joint defense” of Indochina.

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Army demands end of Morgantown strike

WASHINGTON (UP) – Army officers today told leaders of a jurisdictional labor dispute involving welders that all work must be resumed at once on the War Department’s $40 million Morgantown, West Virginia, ordnance plant.

The Army Labor Relations Office made the statement in arranging a conference for this afternoon between representatives of the United Brotherhood of Welders, Cutters and Helpers (I) and the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters (AFL).

Heber Brown, attorney for the welders, said 120 members of the union are being prevented by AFL pickets from returning to their jobs at the Morgantown plant. The welders were formerly members of AFL unions.

“Army officers told us that they intend to see that the Morgantown plant gets built as rapidly as possible, no matter how,” Mr. Brown said. “They arranged for us to confer with George Masterson, president of the Steamfitters.”

Lloyd Payne, secretary of the Welders, this week called on locals claiming to represent 125,000 welders to be prepared for a “sudden and determined strike” throughout the country if the Morgantown dispute is not adjusted.

Mr. Brown said the “situation on the West Coast,” where the dispute originated, “looks pretty good.” He said the strike orders will probably be canceled if an agreement can be reached at the Morgantown plant.

‘Jukebox’ curb ordered

WASHINGTON – Priorities Director Donald M. Nelson today ordered sharp cuts in production of “jukebox,” and weighing, amusement and gaming machines, to conserve defense materials.

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Eichelberger: War only ‘choice’

“The United States has no choice but to wage war with full intensity upon both Germany and Japan for the attainment of final victory,” Clark Eichelberger, national chairman of the Committee to Defend America, said in a statement issued today through the committee’s local office.

“In the treacherous attack of Japan upon the United States, Germany is the chief culprit,” Mr. Eichelberger asserted. “There would be no major Japanese problem if it were not for Hitler.

“The surprise attack, while negotiations were in progress, is part of the strategy that Hitler has always followed.”

Only through defeat of both Germany and Japan “will it be possible to organize the world on the basis of law and order,” the statement declared.

Wheeler confident U.S. will win war

CHICAGO, Illinois (UP) – Sen. Burton K. Wheeler, D-Montana, former isolationist leader, expressed confidence today that the United States would eventually win the war, but said “it won’t be any pink tea affair because we’ve given so much of our stuff away.”

“I don’t think we can lick Japan in 30 or 60 days,” Sen. Wheeler said in an interview, “first because it will be difficult to get at the Japanese and secondly because of the war materials we’ve given away.”

Sen. Wheeler reiterated his previous statement that he was opposed to going to war, but “that we must see it through now that we are in it.”

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House group ready to start probe of Navy

Committee will ask if ‘someone was asleep’ during Jap assault

WASHINGTON (UP) – The House Naval Affairs Committee prepared to start an inquiry today to determine whether “somebody was asleep” during the Japanese assault on Hawaii Sunday.

Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Harold R. Stark were asked to testify at a secret session today, but Knox is away and Adm. Stark said he would have to delay his own testimony for a day or so.

The committee, however, will hear Dr. Ross T. McIntire, Navy surgeon general. He will be questioned regarding charges that some ranking naval officers are physically unfit for the rigors of their duties.

Truth demanded

Congress yesterday reverberated with demands that the people be told the truth about the situation in the Pacific.

The most insistent demand came from Sen. Charles H. Tobey, R-New Hampshire, who said a colleague told him on the Senate floor that “a large part of the Pacific Fleet has been wiped out.”

His views were echoed by Sen. Walter F. George, D-Georgia, who called for “full and complete” information insofar as naval operations permit.

‘Entitled to know’

“That is the only way for any free people to conduct a war,” he said. “The people are entitled to know what is going on.”

White House Secretary Stephen T. Early said he could not reply to a question whether the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor – America’s most formidable naval fortress – constituted “the worst naval disaster in our history.”

All he could do, Mr. Early said, was reiterate his statement of Monday: “Our losses were heavy and subsequent reports show the losses to be heavier than first reported.”

President Roosevelt made a similar statement in his address to the nation last night.

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Senators seek way to present facts on war

Democrats and Republicans agree that candid picture should be presented, no matter how serious; congressional liaison group proposed

WASHINGTON (UP) – Senators were encouraged today by President Roosevelt’s pledge to “give the facts” about war operations, but had various suggestions on methods of keeping the public better informed.

Both Democratic and Republican senators urged that a candid picture of the war scene be presented, no matter how serious.

Sen. Arthur Vandenberg, R-Michigan, asked appointment of a congressional liaison group to act as a “connecting link” between President Roosevelt and Congress and to supply factual information on military and naval operations.

Sen. Robert A. Taft, R-Ohio, suggested that system of daily communiques be instituted by the War and Navy Departments.

Mr. Vandenberg believed that appointment of a liaison group would make unlikely a recurrence of the wave of rumors which swept Congress yesterday. Mr. Vandenberg, describing the congressional mood as “seething,” said 98 percent of the membership was “damned near exploding with wrath and indignation” at the Japanese successes.

He suggested that the liaison committee might, in some respects, parallel the position of British Cabinet officers who give authoritative answers to questions raised in the Houses of Commons and Lords.

Mr. Taft’s communique plan of news dissemination was aimed to remove that function from complete Executive Office control.

Knox ‘out of town’

He said:

A regular method of issuing factual, daily communiques on the progress of the war should be adopted, coming from the Army and Navy. The Executive Office shouldn’t be the means of giving the people either good or bad news.

Demands for information, either confirming or denying the many rumors that swept the capital, crystallized today in a House Naval Affairs Committee inquiry into the naval situation in the Pacific. The committee originally planned to question Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox and Adm. Harold R. Stark. Mr. Knox, however, was reported “out of town,” while Adm. Stark’s appearance was described as “out of the question” for the present.

Committee to study question

Questioning of Navy Department officials may center around a charge brought by Rep. Beverly Vincent, D-Kentucky, that some high officers at Oahu and Honolulu were physically unfit for active duty.

The House Military Affairs Committee today will consider to what extent, in its own opinion, it should receive information on operations of the Armed Forces.

Chairman Robert R. Reynolds, D-North Carolina, of the Senate Military Affairs Committee, said Mr. Vandenberg’s proposal was worthy of close consideration. All information not detrimental to the success of combat operations should be made public “to array the wild rumors,” Mr. Reynolds said.

Sen. Styles Bridges, R-New Hampshire, asked that the administration “be frank with the American people even as to losses incurred, so long as the information does not reveal weaknesses to the enemy which could be taken advantage of.”

Sen. Scott Lucas, D-Illinois, urged that some proposal of the nature suggested by Mr. Vandenberg be given consideration.

[NormanStewart]

Federal agents take 2,303 Axis aliens into custody

Biddle: Majority to be placed in concentration camps supervised by Army

WASHINGTON (UP) – Attorney General Francis Biddle announced today that 2,303 Axis nationals have been taken into custody by the federal government. He said the majority would soon be placed in concentration camps supervised by the Army.

At the same time, Mr. Biddle disclosed that naturalization applications of German and Italian immigrants filed during the past two years would be held up for the duration of the war.

He told a press conference that the Axis nationals seized had been rounded up during a three-hour period in the Hawaiian Islands by military intelligence agents, and within two hours in the continental United States by the FBI.

Mr. Biddle said those in custody included 1,291 Japanese, 865 Germans and 146 Italians.

Only a fraction

The aliens seized represent only a small fraction of the 1,100,000 Axis nationals living in United States territory.

Mr. Biddle said hearings would be held on the cases of some aliens whose seizures as “dangerous” persons may be reconsidered. The hearings will be conducted informally by a board of review similar to those set up to hear the cases of conscientious objectors under the Selective Service Act.

The hearings, he said, will start shortly and the Justice Department hopes to be able to use, in many instances, the personnel of various conscientious objectors’ review boards.

Grave responsibility

The boards, according to Mr. Biddle, will report their findings to him, and the final decisions as to the disposition of the cases will be left to him. He described as “very grave” the responsibility falling upon all concerned in those cases.

Mr. Biddle reiterated that all Japanese, Italian and German aliens not now in custody would be regarded as “peaceful and law-abiding” so long as they obeyed the regulations promulgated under a presidential proclamation issued yesterday.

Mr. Biddle said that several of the aliens now in federal custody undoubtedly would be granted their freedom, while others would be given “permanent paroles as a study of the English system showed this to be the best manner of handling them.”

The parolees will be under the jurisdiction of the Justice Department’s Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Local organizations

The review boards, he said, will be organized locally and will consist “of eminent citizens not in the government.”

The attorney general said that the concentration camps so far planned are located at the forts in Montana, North Dakota and New Mexico, where Axis seamen had previously been sent. He said that everything possible “would be done to treat those seized fairly, as we have many of our own citizens in their countries.”

He also announced the selection of Leo T. Crowley, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., as head of a new division of the Justice Department which will deal with patents and other property of Axis nationals. He said this division would have functions comparable to the alien property custodian during World War I.

Mr. Crowley, whose appointment was approved by President Roosevelt, will also serve as Mr. Biddle’s alternate on the Economic Defense Board.

Hits ‘rough handling’

Mr. Biddle repeated that apprehension and detention of Axis nationals was a “job to be handled by the FBI alone” and he criticized the “rough handling of Japanese” reported in Seattle. He added, “They were very foolish to do it.”

He said there was “absolutely no evidence of fifth column activity or sabotage, but we have already posted extra guards in all vital plants. We are taking no chances.”

According to regulations promulgated under the president’s proclamations, “enemy aliens” – Japanese, Italians and Germans – are forbidden from affiliating with any organization, group or assembly designated by Mr. Biddle.

Travel restricted

Their travel is restricted, and they are subject to seizure if they are found in areas designated as forbidden zones by the Justice or War Departments.

Mr. Biddle asked state and local authorities to prevent molestation or persecution of Japanese, German and Italian nationals. Special steps may be taken to protect the thousands of German Jewish refugees.

It was expected that an early step in enforcement of the regulations would be the purging of foreign-dominated organizations, such as the German-American Bund, of their alien membership.

Firearms barred

No “enemy” alien can possess firearms or other material of war, shortwave receivers and transmitters and other signal devices, cameras, codes and ciphers, papers, documents, books, photographs, sketches or maps of military and naval establishments.

Airplane flights by Japanese, German and Italian nationals are prohibited, except where authority is given by the attorney general or War Department. They are barred from highways, waterways, railways, subways, public utility plants, buildings and other places not generally accessible or used by the general public.

Germany clamps down on U.S. correspondents

BERLIN, Germany (UP) – American correspondents on Berlin were barred from the official press conference today and were instructed to proceed to their homes.

The “request” was made by Minister Paul Schmidt of the Foreign Office press department “in view of the fact that, contrary to all international law, German press correspondents in the United States have been arrested.”

U.S. Steel Corp. director resigns to enter Navy

NEW YORK (UP) – Junius S. Morgan, recently called up for active duty as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, has resigned as a director of U.S. Steel Corp., and as an alternative member of its finance committee, it was announced today.

Mr. Morgan had previously been granted an indefinite leave of absence from his executive post with the investment banking firm of Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.

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Youngstown Vindicator (December 10, 1941)

Kurusu’s hand tipped in hotel

Becomes furious at seeing red, white, and blue on pajamas
By Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Armed Forces might have had a valuable tip regarding Special Envoy Saburo Kurusu’s actual “peace” intentions if they had interviewed employees of the fashionable Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu.

Kurusu made a one-night stopover in Honolulu during his Clipper flight from Tokyo to Washington, and the first thing he did after being shown to his suite was to pick up the telephone and ask for “Room Service.”

“Please have several pairs of pajamas from one of the shops downstairs sent to my room at once,” he ordered.

A few minutes later, a bellhop brought up six pairs of pajamas of assorted hues. Kurusu examined them briefly, chose a bright-colored silk pair. The bellhop took the others away, but had hardly stepped out of the elevator when the desk clerk hailed him.

“Go right back up to Mr. Kurusu’s room,” the clerk directed. “Something’s happened. He sounded very excited.”

The bellboy rushed back to find the eminent Japanese visitor boiling mad. Holding up the pajamas, he pointed to a red-white-and-blue insignia woven on the pocket. Flinging the pajamas at the bellhop, he commanded: “Take them back! Take them back at once and tell that store I’ve decided I don’t want any of their merchandise.”

Who was asleep?

Alibis cannot very well explain away how both Army and Navy intelligence had their guard down so carelessly when Japanese planes swooped down out of the early morning sky at Hawaii Sunday.

Their only explanation so far is that the Pacific is a very wide ocean. However, U.S. naval intelligence at least is supposed to keep a careful eye on when Japanese warships leave port and notify U.S. naval stations in the Pacific to watch out for them.

In 1932, for instance, during the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, the Japanese fleet left mysteriously, and for several weeks the U.S. fleet was on the alert trying to figure out its destination.

In recent years, however, both intelligence services have been under the command of drawing-room experts. Gen. Sherman Miles, in charge of military intelligence, is a charming gentleman who has surrounded himself with wealthy young blue-bloods. Only members of the best families can qualify for military intelligence, and how much they know about the life around a Japanese waterfront is questionable.

Similarly, naval intelligence has been in charge of two delightful gentlemen, Capt. Alan Kirk and now Capt. Ted Wilkinson. Both have their names listed in the Social Register, the blue-blood list of Washington’s selected socialites. Wilkinson has a large mansion across the Potomac in Virginia, and there he entertains in the very best manner, but when it came to docking the USS Mississippi in New York, it took him six and a half hours.

Captains Kirk and Wilkinson are great assets at dinner parties, and apparently want all their young men to be likewise, for no man can get into naval intelligence unless both grandfathers and grandmothers were born in the USA. Not even Wendell Willkie could qualify.

Obviously, it is the man who can speak a few languages, is not afraid to get his hands dirty in close contact with life, and who is not too particular regarding the percentage of blue blood in his veins, who should be able to bring in shipping information.

Mrs. Roosevelt and Japanese

Mrs. Roosevelt is one of the most even-tempered, good-natured persons in the world. But no one in Washington was more irate than she when the news first broke that Japan had sprung a Hitler double-cross on Hawaii during the middle of her husband’s appeal to Emperor Hirohito.

On the fateful Sunday of the bombardment, Mrs. Roosevelt came into the White House while the president was talking to the Japanese ambassador. She said nothing at the time, but her lips tightened into a firm straight line – sure sign that the first lady’s dander is up.

Afterward, she told friends:

Imagine the nerve of that man sitting with my husband in the White House when Japanese bombs were falling on our boys! And when I came in, he got up and actually bowed and was full of smiles!

No-appeaser Ickes

The one member of the Cabinet who had a consistently 100 percent, though sometimes unpopular, batting record regarding Japan was the toe-stepping, hit-em-harder Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes.

No one outside the Cabinet ever knew just how many tough fights Ickes had with Secretary of State Hull over appeasing Japan. For a time, it got so that Hull would not speak to him.

Ickes argued way back in 1937, when Japan first invaded China, that the United States should cooperate with Britain in shutting off Japan’s oil and the raw materials of war. And he kept plugging this theme and getting into the hair of the State Department with unremitting zeal ever since.

He brought the matter up again in 1938 when the Japanese sank the gunboat USS Panay, obviously a test by the warlords to see whether the United States would take it lying down.

Then, in 1940, Ickes joined with Morgenthau, Stimson, and Knox in trying to persuade the president to embargo all oil, gasoline and scrap iron. Once again Secretary Hull opposed, and persuaded the president to delay the oil embargo until almost a year later, by which time Japan had built up a year’s reserve of oil – which she has today.

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ON THE RECORD —
‘Of the United States’

By Dorothy Thompson

So, it had come. There was nothing unexpected about it. The apprehension that one had had, waking and sleeping, for two years now; more than apprehension, the certainty; something that being certain, one had faced and come to terms within one’s mind – even with an irritation, sometimes a fury, that everybody else didn’t see how certain it was.

“We shall be attacked. We shall be caught, like all the others, by surprise and ill-prepared… just like all the others…” Furious with the talk and the debate and the acting as though the danger were not here, coming closer… coming closer all the time.

Well, now it was here.

It had happened the day before and now the president was going to speak.

There was even something of an anti-climax about it… and something idiotic. No variation. Just like Holland – and we were the great United States. Just like Russia thousands of miles away. Oh – and we were brothers. Who cares for ideologies among men attacked in their homes. The same pattern, now become even a bit tedious. The negotiations; the smiling diplomats.

Suddenly a cold, exaggerated fury at Kurusu’s smile, that bland secretive smile that I had seen on all the photographs.

A friend, sitting next to me at the radio, said, “Well, at least, you are not shocked.”

“No,” I said, “I am not shocked.”

Yes, but I was. Odd that one never gets over being shocked. Over and over again the same pattern and always the surprise… the silly, booby surprise. And I felt it too. “Not to us. they can’t do that to us.” Even when I’d known all the time that they could, and they would. Known it in the bones, where one knows things best. But still the surprise.

The joint session

So it was here. And now the president was walking into Congress, and the calm radio voice was describing his entrance… the applause… The president addressing the joint session…

The president.

My president. Sen. Pepper’s president. Sen. Vandenburg’s president. Hamilton Fish’s president. Our president.

“The President of the United States.”

“Of the United States.”

America!

Why did one cry like any booby just at those words: “Of the United States.”

Now it had come and it was going to be godawful. Not the way some of the radio commentators had said and the editorials. Not the “silly little Japs” and “we’d wipe up the oceans with them.” “Infamy!” Yes, infamy. But so well planned, so well calculated, so efficient, so almost admirable the infamies… one after another… the great success story. Not easy. Hard. Terribly hard… Death… death and wounds; heartbreaks and suffering; all the grueling, wearing, tiring, haggard anxieties, the irritating privations… all the unbearable little things too… what Rebecca West called “the minor horrors of war.”

Life was beautiful

Life had been so beautiful once… when was that…? Oh, so long ago. But now…! Now it would be… unbearable.

What is unbearable?

That’s the final test of who wins. Not the first success… The endurance.

The president spoke out strong the way you do when there is a lump in your throat to overcome. He hated it. Some had said he wanted it – because he saw it. Now the tremble in his voice, so wonderfully controlled. The president.

Not too many words. That was good. There have been so many words already. Now it is deeds. “No matter how long it may take us…” That was good. It won’t be over tomorrow, or tomorrow.

“We will gain the inevitable triumph – so help us God.”

Yes, God help us. “God bless us every one, said Tiny Tim.” Says Great America.

Crazy and silly things

America! Think of everything one loves… Such crazy silly things! Flash back to the time we ran away to the Indian reservation near Gowanda. The Sixth Reader. Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address: “For still the judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.”

“I love thy rocks and rills” …the creek by the house where I nearly drowned… at 10… “thy woods and templed hills.” …going to a college conference at Lake George… oh, how long ago… and the white farm in Vermont. Home.

“It was all the little books that had gone to school with me” …who wrote that? Edna Millay… way back… and she wrote those funny articles called “I like Americans.” Funny why she liked them. because they didn’t wear suspenders and didn’t “put a dead man in the top of the bed.”

The first times

Doughnuts and coffee, hot dog stands, terrapin and steamed clams… the first time you saw New York… the first time you saw San Francisco… the church at Old Bennington… Monticello… Amos and Andy…

America!

All the things one hated, too. That passion to change what one hates. Yes, fight for that, too! For our own damned right to change things in our own damned way.

Listen how they were applauding; how they were cheering! Not that deadly monotonous roar: Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!

Another rhythm. America’s! He stood there: the president. And some of them had hated him; and many of them had fought him; and all of us had elected them; Gene Talmadge and Carter Glass; Sen. Wheeler and Sen. Austin; Sen. La Follette and Sol Bloom, Ham Fish and George Aiken… All the states… the North, the South, the Middle West, the Southwest, the Far West… So near the Far East… The United… States… of… America.

‘So help us God’

Our side. Our team. Our fight. Our Victory.

Their voices commingled in the great cry of the Free!

“So help us God.”

“Protect us by Thy might,
“Great God our King!”

That’s telling ‘em who our King is!

“Americanos! Conquerors! For thee… for thee, oh democracy!

“For thee I am singing these songs.” – Walt Whitman

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Lawrence: Hits president in arms delay

Raps New Deal for coddling labor, hurting business
By David Lawrence

WASHINGTON – It has not yet been fully borne in on the Roosevelt administration that a war is on and that the United States Navy has already suffered a severe defeat.

The president is still planning “conferences” with labor and management instead of issuing orders for action. Congress, instead of being alert to its responsibility, is still awaiting word from the executive branch of the government before it determines how to discharge its duties.

A case in point is the way the president is handling labor legislation. He is already lukewarm about restricting strikes although everybody here knows that millions of man-hours have been lost because of strikes. The idea now voiced by the president is to try voluntary cooperation once more. It has been tried and it has failed.

No union discipline

The sad truth which the country has not been told by the administration is that neither the AFL nor the CIO can maintain discipline over their locals and that they have conceded they have only a sort of moral influence over their constituent locals. With the lease-lend program in effect and upwards of 100 lives lost on the USS Reuben James, the coal strike and the insurrection in the commercial coal mines took place. Yet the administration is talking about giving “voluntary cooperation” a further trial.

The United States faces a serious debacle in its defense program. The country is in for some unpleasant news when it learns how the whole program has been delayed through strikes, red tape, inefficiency, and the politics of class warfare. “America is unprepared for a two-ocean war,” is the word of rejoicing which the Berlin radio is broadcasting. And the reason, of course, is that the president has failed to organize the production of the nation on a basis that will make up for the deficiencies in our Army, Navy and Air Force.

When Bernard M. Baruch came back from Europe in the autumn of 1938 after the Munich conference, he tried to warn the president of the needs of the Army and Navy and Air Force. He said Chamberlain capitulated because England was unprepared. Whatever the mistakes and delays prior to the outbreak of war in September 1939, there certainly is scant excuse for the dawdling way the defense program has been handled since that date.

Country wakes up

It has taken the serious defeat in the Pacific to wake up the country to the truth about the way things have been going. In a democracy it is often through political evasion that the truth is concealed. But the facts about production are easy to obtain. The whole industrial mechanism has not been functioning properly. Management has been suspicious of the efforts of the New Dealers to put over their government ownership schemes and labor has been given no word of denunciation from the government until recently for ignoring the requests of the administration to stop strikes.

In the midst of this class friction and with an international war in the offing, the president resorted to a scheme to put over the compulsory unionization of the coal mines which does not look well in the record. John J. Lewis ignored the president’s requests twice and yet today he has been rewarded by a presidential appointee, who has granted him all he asks for. It paid Mr. Lewis handsomely to strike.

The leaders of labor say they are behind the government and the defense program. They have said this dozens of times in the last two years but the strikes and interruptions happen just the same. The president, it was believed, would not temporize with the situation any longer. But he is doing so again.

Longer hours

Word that longer hours must be worked and that a seven-day week will be requested has come at last from the president. William S. Knudsen, coordinator of the OPM, begged for this in a public speech just a year ago, but his advice was ignored.

As one looks back over the record of failures in administering the defense program, one wonders what will happen when the public gets the true facts about how the administration preferred to put its own political reforms above preparedness and allowed interruptions of a serious nature to delay the production of weapons for defense.

America is unprepared today because the administration has preferred to talk of “social gains” and squelch legislation that would have helped production. It has coddled pressure groups even since May 1940. As for the production mechanism of the country, it has been impaired by government harassment of any kind.

Business hampered

The Department of Justice is still trying to put in jail dozens of key executives because of anti-trust law technicalities. The workweek has been shortened in the name of “liberalism” but waste has followed and costs have been forced upwards by the time-and-a-half basis so that longer work shifts cannot be economically operated. Businessmen have been blamed by New Dealers who have sniped away without presidential reprimand. The most important material in making an airplane – aluminum – happens to be made by a large company against which a New Deal clique has done everything for the last year to demoralize operations and break down its efficiency.

Someday what has happened in the last two years will be seen in true perspective and the American people will find out that in a war in which production and mechanization count so much, the leaders of industry have been browbeaten, threatened, and forced to one side while a group of reformers, with no experience in organization or industry, have sat at the key posts in the cabinet and in the executive agencies.

And there is no sign as yet of change, no sign of true coalition government, no sign of action and collaboration, but instead the same talk of coddling pressure groups and putting politics and “social gains” above the nation’s safety.

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Eliot: Asserts U.S. should hide Hawaii facts

Says Japs would also like to know extent of damage
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot

This is perhaps the gravest hour in our national history. It is an hour for calm and resolute thinking. Above all, it is an hour for the suspension of judgment as to the course of events and the responsibility for seeming misfortune until information upon which judgment can properly be based is available.

The cry for news, news, news is understandable. The anxiety which lies behind that cry in inevitable. Yet every citizen ought to realize it is his duty, perhaps his most important duty at the moment, to keep calm, to curb his natural desire to know what is happening, to await the moment when he may be safely told.

Pressures of whatever kind brought to bear at this time to force either the revealing of information or the apportionment of praise or blame can do nothing but give advantage to the enemy. Remember that the enemy, too, wants information. He wants desperately to know what we are thinking and doing and planning. The least hint may be of service to him, of grave disservice to the United States.

Atlantic drained fleet

Specifically, I have in mind the present naval situation in the Pacific as affected by the Japanese attack on the American fleet and base at Pearl Harbor and the other operations which have taken place or are taking place. At the beginning, the American Pacific Fleet faced certain difficulties, due to withdrawal of some of its ships to meet the new responsibilities we had undertaken in the Atlantic. It was necessary to meet these responsibilities, once they had been assumed.

The amount of force required for that purpose was a matter for judgment of the president and his naval advisers. It may be said that, if the force transferred to the Atlantic included any of our modern battleships, the responsibility assumed by whoever made the final decision to divide the battle force was a very grave one, and one whose results must eventually be tried at the bar of public judgment.

Margin was not great

It is the personal opinion of the writer, and always has been, that, whatever disposition be made of the lighter craft to meet changing conditions and needs, the main striking power of the fleet, the battle force, ought never, under any conditions, to be divided as long as there exists a potential enemy in either ocean possessing a strong battle line.

Margin of superiority possessed by our original Pacific Fleet over the total force of the Japanese Navy was not great, though probably sufficient for victory; almost certainly so, taking into account our great superiority in naval aviation. How much that margin had been whittled down by transfers to the Atlantic is uncertain, but certainly it had been reduced.

Japs want to know, too

Now the question is, how much further has our fighting strength in the Pacific been cut by the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor; how many ships have been lost, and how many put out of action for a greater or less period of time by severe damage? We do not know, and we ought not – at this time – to ask. The Japanese would like to know that too; they can hardly be sure of what they have done, or left undone. The whole course of their future operations, and ours, depends on accurate information, and the side with the best information has a tremendous advantage.

Playing for time

The Japanese are playing desperately for time. They have probably gained some time by their attack on Pearl Harbor. Their great anxiety is to establish themselves securely in the Far East before superior naval forces can appear there. To do this they must take Singapore and Manila before a superior American fleet (or a superior Anglo-American-Dutch fleet) can be assembled in Far Eastern waters.

They cannot detach the whole of their battle force to meet us, because they must keep a certain number of battleships in the South China Sea to cover landing operations in Malaya; otherwise these will be at the mercy of the two or more British battleships now at Singapore.

Had to take first blow

They have their worries; they are making a desperate bid for quick victory before their resources are exhausted. Remember all this, and remember that if that bid for victory is to be defeated, we must make the most effective possible use of every man and ship and plane we possess. The least hampering of our national effort now, the least leakage of information, may be fatal.

If there is blame to be apportioned for what may have happened at Pearl Harbor, then the time for that is later, when all the facts can be told.

Our defensive policy necessarily causes us to be the recipient and not the deliverer of the first blows. We ought to have attacked Japan without warning, from the strictly military point of view; from the political point of view this was impossible, and the political results might well have proven more damaging than the physical blows we have sustained in consequence.

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U.S. State Department (December 10, 1941)

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom to the Secretary of State

London, December 10, 1941 — 1 p.m.
[Received December 10 — 12:11 p.m.]

5974 

Personal for the Secretary and the President.

The Prime Minister, as you will have seen in the press, announced to the Parliament at 11 o’clock this morning the loss of the PRINCE OF WALES and the REPULSE. I was with him last night and saw him immediately following the announcement and have been constantly with him over the last few days. It seemed best to me that certain information should go from him direct to you rather than through the Embassy. I hope you and the Secretary approve. He feels that information from the Pacific calls for reconsideration of planning as you already know. Discouragements seem only to give him new courage and add to his determination.

Your speech to the Congress was carried on the BBC. It gave people great confidence here. I listened to your talk to the Nation last night. There was serious interference but it was repeated this morning, again at noon on the NBC. People here assume that we are in the total war together. News from the Middle East and Russia is good.

WINANT

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The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China

Washington, December 10, 1941 — 6 p.m.
293

Your 481, December 8, 6 p.m.

Please inform Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek as from the President that the President deeply appreciates the attitude of the Generalissimo and of the Chinese Government as expressed by General Chiang to you on December 8. State also that the suggestions made by General Chiang at that time are receiving prompt attention and careful study.

HULL

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The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan

Washington, December 10, 1941
824

Department received today your telegrams 1906 and 1910 of December 8, together with your undated telegram which contained Foreign Office note in regard to existence of state of war between the United States and Japan.

We hope that all goes well with you and your staff and other Americans in Japan. Department has notified families of Embassy staff that you are all safe and well.

HULL

[NormanStewart]

Address by German Fuehrer Hitler to the Reichstag
December 11, 1941, 3 p.m. CET

Kroll Opera House
Berlin, Germany

Broadcast (RRG):

Abgeordnete! Männer des Deutschen Reichstages!

Ein Jahr weltgeschichtlicher Ereignisse geht zur Neige, ein Jahr größter Entscheidungen steht vor uns. In dieser ernsten Zeit spreche ich zu Ihnen, Abgeordnete des Reichstages, als den Vertretern der deutschen Nation. Allein darüber hinaus soll das ganze deutsche Volk von diesem Rückblick Kenntnis nehmen und von den Entscheidungen, die uns Gegenwart und Zukunft aufzwingen.

Nach der abermaligen Ablehnung meines Friedensangebotes im Jahre 1940 durch den derzeitigen britischen Ministerpräsidenten und der ihn tragenden oder beherrschenden Clique, war es klar, daß dieser Krieg gegen alle Gründe der Vernunft und der Notwendigkeit mit den Waffen bis zum Ende durchgekämpft werden muß. Sie kennen mich, meine alten Parteigenossen, daß ich stets ein Feind halber oder schwächlicher Entschlüsse war.

Wenn die Vorsehung es so gewollt hat, daß dem deutschen Volk dieser Kampf nicht erspart werden kann, dann will ich ihr dafür dankbar sein, daß sie mich mit der Führung eines historischen Ringens betraute, das für die nächsten 500 oder 1000 Jahre nicht nur unsere deutsche Geschichte, sondern die Geschichte Europas, ja der ganzen Welt, entscheidend gestalten wird.

Das deutsche Volk und seine Soldaten arbeiten und kämpfen heute nicht nur für sich und ihre Zeit, sondern für kommende, ja fernste Generationen. Eine geschichtliche Revision einmaligen Ausmaßes wurde uns vom Schöpfer aufgetragen, die zu vollziehen wir nunmehr verpflichtet sind.

Der schon kurz nach der Beendigung des Kampfes in Norwegen mögliche Waffenstillstand im Westen zwang die deutsche Führung zu allererst, die gewonnenen, politisch, strategisch und wirtschaftlich wichtigen Gebiete militärisch zu sichern.

So haben die damals eroberten Länder seitdem ihre Widerstandsmöglichkeit wesentlich verändert. Von Kirkenes bis zur spanischen Grenze erstreckt sich ein Gürtel von Stützpunkten und Befestigungen größten Ausmaßes.

Zahllose Flugplätze wurden gebaut oder im hohen Norden zum Teil aus dem Urgestein des Granits gesprengt. Marinebasen erhielten Schutzbauten für U-Boote in einem Ausmaß und in einer Stärke, daß sie sowohl von See als auch von der Luft aus praktisch unverletzbar sind. Der Verteidigung selbst dienen mehr als eineinhalb tausend neue Batterien, deren Stellungen erkundet, geplant und ausgebaut werden mußten. Ein Netz von Straßen und Eisenbahnen wurde angelegt, so daß heute die Verbindung zwischen der spanischen Grenze und Petsamo unabhängig vom Meere sichergestellt ist. Pioniere und Baubataillone der Marine, des Heeres und der Luftwaffe in Verbindung mit der Organisation Todt haben hier Anlagen geschaffen, die dem Westwall in nichts nachstehen. An ihrer Verstärkung wird unentwegt weitergearbeitet.

Es ist mein unbeirrbarer Entschluß, diese europäische Front für jeden Feind unangreifbar zu machen.

Diese auch über den letzten Winter hin fortgesetzte Arbeit defensiver Art fand ihre Ergänzung durch eine offensive Kriegführung, wie sie durch die jahreszeitlichen Verhältnisse bedingt, möglich war. Deutsche Überwasser- und Unterwasser-Seestreitkräfte führten ihren stetigen Vernichtungskrieg gegen die britische und die ihr dienstbare Kriegs- und Handelsmarine weiter. Die deutsche Luftwaffe unterstützte durch Aufklärung und Angriff die Schädigung der feindlichen Tonnage und brachte in zahllosen Vergeltungsflügen dem Engländer eine bessere Vorstellung über den „reizenden Krieg“ bei, dessen Urheber mit in erster Linie sein heutiger Premierminister ist.

In diesem Kampf wurde in der Mitte des vergangenen Jahres Deutschland vor allem durch seinen italienischen Bundesgenossen unterstützt. Viele Monate lastete das Gewicht eines großen Teiles der britischen Macht auf den Schultern des mit uns verbündeten italienischen Staates. Nur infolge der enormen Überlegenheit an schweren Panzern gelang es den Engländern, in Nordafrika vorübergehend eine Krise herbeizuführen.

Schon am 24. März des vergangenen Jahres aber begann eine kleine Gemeinschaft deutsch-italienischer Verbände unter der Führung Rommels zum Gegenangriff anzutreten.

Am 2. April fiel Agedabia. Am 4. wurde Benghasi erreicht. Am 8. zogen unsere gemeinsamen Verbände in Derna ein, am 11. wurde Tobruk eingeschlossen und am 12. April Bardia besetzt.

Das deutsche Afrikakorps hat um so Hervorragenderes geleistet, als den Deutschen rein klimatisch dieser Kriegsschauplatz vollkommen fremd und ungewohnt war. So wie einst in Spanien sind nunmehr in Nordafrika Deutsche und Italiener dem gleichen Feinde stets gemeinsam gegenübergetreten.

Während durch diese kühnen Maßnahmen die nordafrikanische Front unserer beiden verbündeten Länder mit dem Blute deutscher und italienischer Soldaten wieder gesichert wurde, zog sich über Europa bereits der unheildrohende Schatten einer entsetzlichen Gefahr zusammen.

Der bittersten Not gehorchend, habe ich mich im Herbst 1939 entschlossen, wenigstens den Versuch zu machen, durch das Ausschalten der akuten deutsch-russischen Spannung die Voraussetzung für einen allgemeinen Frieden zu schaffen. Dies war psychologisch schwer infolge der Gesamteinstellung des deutschen Volkes und vor allem der Partei gegenüber dem Bolschewismus, sachlich genommen aber leicht, da Deutschland in all den Gebieten, die England als von uns bedroht erklärte und mit Beistandspakten überfiel, tatsächlich immer nur wirtschaftliche Interessen gesehen und vertreten hatte. Denn ich darf Sie erinnern, meine Abgeordneten, daß England im ganzen Früh- und Hochsommer des Jahres 1939 zahlreichen Staaten und Ländern seinen Beistand anbot, mit der Behauptung, Deutschland besäße die Absicht, bei ihnen einzufallen und sie ihrer Freiheit zu berauben.

Das Deutsche Reich und seine Regierung konnten mit bestem Gewissen daher versichern, daß es sich dabei nur um Unterstellungen handelte, die der Wahrheit in keiner Weise entsprachen.

Es kam dazu noch die nüchterne militärische Erkenntnis, daß im Falle eines Krieges, der durch die britische Diplomatie dem deutschen Volk aufgezwungen werden sollte, der Kampf nach zwei Fronten ohnehin nur mit sehr schweren Opfern durchführbar schien. Nachdem außerdem die baltischen Staaten, Rumänien usw. der Annahme der britischen Beistandspakte zugeneigt waren und damit zu erkennen gaben, daß sie ebenfalls an eine solche Bedrohung glaubten, war es für die Deutsche Reichsregierung nicht nur ein Recht, sondern auch eine Pflicht, ihrerseits die Grenzen der deutschen Interessen zu bestimmen.

Die betroffenen Länder mußten allerdings – auch zum Leidwesen des Deutschen Reiches selbst – in kurzer Zeit erkennen, daß der einzige Faktor, der der stärkste Garant gegenüber dem drohenden Osten sein konnte, nur Deutschland war.

So wie sie durch ihre eigene Politik die Verbindungen zum Deutschen Reich durchschnitten hatten und stattdessen sich dem Beistand der Macht anvertrauten, die in ihrem sprichwörtlichen Egoismus seit Jahrhunderten nie Beistand gab, sondern stets nur Hilfe forderte, waren sie verloren.

Dennoch erregte das Schicksal dieser Länder das stärkste Mitempfinden des deutschen Volkes. Der Winterkampf der Finnen zwang uns ein Gefühl, gemischt aus Bitternis und Bewunderung auf. Bewunderung, weil wir selbst als Soldatenvolk für Heldentum und Aufopferung ein empfängliches Herz besitzen, Bitternis, weil wir mit dem Blick auf den drohenden Feind im Westen und die Gefahr im Osten militärisch zu helfen nicht in der Lage waren.

Sowie es klar wurde, daß Sowjetrußland aus der Abgrenzung der politischen deutschen Einflußsphären das Recht ableitete, die außerhalb lebenden Nationen praktisch auszurotten, war das weitere Verhältnis nur noch ein zweckbestimmtes, dem Vernunft und Gefühle feindlich gegenüberstanden.

Von Monat zu Monat mehr wurde schon im Jahre 1940 die Erkenntnis gewonnen, daß die Pläne der Männer des Kreml bewußt auf die Beherrschung und damit Vernichtung ganz Europas hinzielten.

Ich habe der Nation schon ein Bild des Aufmarsches der russischen militärischen Machtmittel im Osten gegeben zu einer Zeit, in der Deutschland nur wenige Divisionen in den an Rußland angrenzenden Provinzen besaß. Nur ein Blinder konnte es übersehen, daß sich hier ein Aufmarsch von weltgeschichtlich einmaligen Dimensionen vollzog, und zwar nicht, um etwas zu verteidigen, was nicht bedroht war, sondern nur um etwas anzugreifen, was zur Verteidigung nicht mehr fähig zu sein schien.

Wenn die blitzartige Beendigung des Feldzuges im Westen den Moskauer Machthabern auch die Möglichkeit nahm, mit einer sofortigen Erschöpfung des Deutschen Reiches rechnen zu können, so beseitigte dies keineswegs ihre Absichten, sondern verschob nur den Zeitpunkt des Angriffes. Im Sommer 1941 glaubte man den günstigen Moment des Losschlagens zu sehen. Nun sollte ein neuer Mongolensturm über Europa hinwegbrausen.

Für die gleiche Zeit aber versprach Mister Churchill auch die Wende des englischen Kampfes gegen Deutschland. Er versucht heute in feiger Weise abzuleugnen, daß er in den Geheimsitzungen des Jahres 1940 im englischen Unterhaus als wesentlichsten Faktor für die erfolgreiche Fortführung und Beendigung dieses Krieges auf den sowjetischen Kriegseintritt hinwies, der spätestens im Jahre 1941 kommen sollte und der England dann in die Lage versetzen würde, auch seinerseits zum Angriff überzugehen.

Im Frühling dieses Jahres verfolgten wir deshalb in gewissenhafter Pflicht den Aufmarsch einer Weltmacht, die an Menschen und Material überunerschöpfliche Reserven zu verfügen schien. Schwere Wolken begannen sich über Europa zusammenzuziehen.

Denn, meine Abgeordneten, was ist Europa? Es gibt keine geographische Definition unseres Kontinents, sondern nur eine volkliche und kulturelle. Nicht der Ural ist die Grenze dieses Kontinents, sondern jene Linie, die das Lebensbild des Westens von dem des Ostens trennt.

Es gab eine Zeit, da war Europa jenes griechische Eiland, in das nordische Stämme vorgedrungen waren, um von dort aus zum erstenmal ein Licht anzuzünden, das Seitdem langsam aber stetig die Welt der Menschen zu erhellen begann. Und als diese Griechen den Einbruch der persischen Eroberer abwehrten, da verteidigten sie nicht ihre engere Heimat, die Griechenland war, sondern jenen Begriff, der heute Europa heißt.

Und dann wanderte Europa von Hellas nach Rom.

Mit dem griechischen Geist und der griechischen Kultur verband sich römisches Denken und römische Staatskunst. Ein Weltreich wurde geschaffen, das auch heute noch in seiner Bedeutung und fortzeugenden Kraft nicht erreicht, geschweige denn übertroffen ist. Als aber die römischen Legionen gegenüber dem afrikanischen Ansturm Karthagos in drei schweren Kriegen Italien verteidigten und endlich den Sieg erfochten, war es wieder nicht Rom, für das sie kämpften, sondern das die griechisch-römische Welt umfassende Europa.

Der nächste Einbruch gegen diesen Heimatboden der neuen menschlichen Kultur erfolgte aus den Weiten des Ostens. Ein furchtbarer Strom kulturloser Horden ergoß sich aus Innerasien bis tief in das Herz des heutigen europäischen Kontinents, brennend, sengend und mordend als wahre Geißel des Herrn.

In der Schlacht auf den Katalaunischen Feldern traten zum erstenmal in einem Schicksalskampf von unabsehbarer Bedeutung Römer und Germanen gemeinsam für eine Kultur ein, die von den Griechen ausgehend, über die Römer hinweg nunmehr auch die Germanen in ihren Bann gezogen hatte.

Europa war gewachsen. Aus Hellas und Rom entstand das Abendland, und seine Verteidigung war nunmehr für viele Jahrhunderte nicht nur die Aufgabe der Römer, sondern vor allem auch die Aufgabe der Germanen. In eben dem Maße aber, in dem das Abendland, beleuchtet von griechischer Kultur, erfüllt vom Eindruck der gewaltigen Überlieferungen des römischen Reiches, durch die germanische Kolonisation seine Räume erweiterte, dehnte sich räumlich jener Begriff, den wir Europa nennen, ganz gleich, ob nun deutsche Kaiser an der Unstrut oder auf dem Lechfeld die Einbrüche aus dem Osten abwehrten, oder Afrika in langen Kämpfen aus Spanien zurückgedrängt wurde, es war immer ein Kampf des werdenden Europas gegenüber einer ihm im tiefsten Wesen fremden Umwelt. Wenn einst Rom seine unvergänglichen Verdienste an der Schöpfung und Verteidigung dieses Kontinents zukamen, dann übernahmen nunmehr auch Germanen die Verteidigung und den Schutz einer Völkerfamilie, die unter sich in der politischen Gestaltung und Zielsetzung noch so differenziert und auseinanderweichend sein mochte: Im Gesamtbild aber doch eine blutmäßig und kulturell teils gleiche, teils sich ergänzende Einheit darstellt.

Und von diesem Europa aus ging nicht nur eine Besiedlung anderer Erdteile vor sich, sondern eine geistige und kulturelle Befruchtung, deren sich nur jener bewußt wird, der gewillt ist, die Wahrheit zu suchen, statt sie zu verleugnen.

Es hat deshalb auch nicht England den Kontinent kultiviert, sondern Splitter germanischen Volkstums unseres Kontinents sind als Angelsachsen und Normannen auf diese Insel gezogen und haben ihr eine Entwicklung ermöglicht, die sicher einmalig ist. Und ebenso hat nicht Amerika Europa entdeckt, sondern umgekehrt. Und all das, was Amerika nicht aus Europa bezogen hat, mag wohl einer verjudeten Mischrasse als bewunderungswürdig erscheinen. Europa aber sieht darin nur ein Zeichen des Verfalls in Kunst und kultureller Lebenshaltung, das Erbe jüdischen oder vernegerten Bluteinschlags.

Meine Abgeordneten! Männer des deutschen Reichstages!

Ich muß diese Ausführungen machen, denn der Kampf, der sich in den ersten Monaten dieses Jahres allmählich als unausbleiblich abzuzeichnen begann, und zu dessen Führung dieses Mal in erster Linie das Deutsche Reich berufen ist, geht ebenfalls über die Interessen unseres eigenen Volkes und Landes weit hinaus. Denn so wie einst die Griechen gegenüber den Persern nicht Griechenland und die Römer gegenüber den Karthagern nicht Rom, Römer und Germanen gegenüber den Hunnen nicht das Abendland, deutsche Kaiser gegenüber Mongolen nicht Deutschland, spanische Helden gegenüber Afrika nicht Spanien, sondern alle Europa verteidigt haben, so kämpft Deutschland auch heute nicht für sich selbst, sondern für unseren gesamten Kontinent.

Und es ist ein glückliches Zeichen, daß diese Erkenntnis im Unterbewußtsein der meisten europäischen Völker heute so tief ist, daß sie, sei es durch offene Stellungnahme, sei es durch den Zustrom von Freiwilligen, an diesem Kampfe teilnehmen.

Als die deutschen und italienischen Armeen am 6. April dieses Jahres zum Angriff gegen Jugoslawien und Griechenland antraten, war dies die Einleitung des großen Kampfes, in dem wir uns zur Zeit noch befinden.

Denn die Revolte, die in Belgrad zum Sturz des ehemaligen Prinzregenten und seiner Regierung führte, war bestimmend für den weiteren Verlauf der Geschehnisse in diesem Raum Europas. Wenn auch England an diesem Putsch maßgebendst beteiligt war, so spielte doch die Hauptrolle Sowjetrußland.

Was ich Herrn Molotow anläßlich seines Besuches in Berlin verweigert hatte, glaubte Stalin nunmehr auf dem Umweg einer revolutionären Bewegung auch gegen unseren Willen erreichen zu können. Ohne Rücksicht auf die abgeschlossenen Verträge weiteten sich die Absichten der bolschewistischen Machthaber. Der Freundschaftspakt mit dem neuen revolutionären Regime erhellte blitzartig die Nähe der drohenden Gefahr.

Was vor der deutschen Wehrmacht in diesem Feldzuge geleistet wurde, fand im deutschen Reichstag am 4. Mai 1941 seine Würdigung.

Was auszusprechen mir damals aber leider versagt bleiben mußte, war die Erkenntnis, daß wir mit rasender Schnelligkeit der Auseinandersetzung mit einem Staat entgegengingen, der im Augenblick des Balkanfeldzuges nur deshalb noch nicht eingriff, weil sein Aufmarsch noch nicht vollendet und die Benützung der Flughäfen vor allem infolge der um diese Jahreszeit erst einsetzenden Schneeschmelze und damit der Grundlosmachung der Rollfelder unmöglich war.

Meine Abgeordneten!

So wie mir im Jahre 1940 durch Mitteilungen aus dem englischen Unterhaus und durch Beobachtung der russischen Truppenverschiebungen an unseren Grenzen die Möglichkeit der Entstehung einer Gefahr im Osten des Reiches bewußt wurde, erteilte ich sofort die Anweisung zur Aufstellung zahlreicher neuer Panzer-, Motorisierter und Infanteriedivisionen. Die Voraussetzungen dafür waren sowohl personell als auch materiell reichlich vorhanden. Wie ich Ihnen, meine Abgeordneten, und überhaupt dem ganzen deutschen Volk nur eine Versicherung geben kann:

Wenn man auch in den Demokratien von Rüstung, wie leicht begreiflich, sehr viel redet, dann wird aber trotzdem im nationalsozialistischen Deutschland dafür immer noch mehr gearbeitet. Es war in der Vergangenheit so, und es ist dies auch heute nicht anders. Jedes Jahr wird uns mit vermehrten und vor allem auch besseren Waffen dort finden, wo die Entscheidungen fallen.

Trotz aller Einsicht in die Notwendigkeit, unter keinen Umständen dem Gegner die Möglichkeit zu bieten, den ersten Stoß in unser Herz tun zu können, war der Entschluß in diesem Fall doch ein sehr schwerer. Wenn die Artikelschreiber unserer demokratischen Zeitungen heute erklären, daß ich bei genauerer Kenntnis der Stärke des bolschewistischen Gegners es mir überlegt haben würde, zum Angriff zu schreiten, so verkennen sie ebenso sehr die Lage wie meine Person.

Ich habe keinen Krieg gesucht, sondern habe im Gegenteil alles getan, um ihn zu vermeiden. Ich würde aber pflichtvergessen und gewissenlos handeln, wenn ich es trotz der Kenntnis der Unvermeidbarkeit eines Waffenganges versäumen würde, die daraus einzig möglichen Konsequenzen zu ziehen.

Weil ich Sowjetrußland für die tödlichste Gefahr nicht nur des Deutschen Reiches, sondern für ganz Europa hielt, habe ich mich entschlossen, wenn möglich noch wenige Tage vor Ausbruch dieser Auseinandersetzung selbst das Zeichen zum Angriff zu geben.

Für die Tatsache der Absicht aber des russischen Angriffes liegt heute ein wahrhaft erdrückendes und authentisches Material vor. Ebenso sind wir uns im klaren über den Zeitpunkt, an dem dieser Angriff stattfinden sollte. Angesichts der uns vielleicht im ganzen Umfang aber wirklich erst heute bewußt gewordenen Größe der Gefahr kann ich dem Herrgott nur danken, daß er mich zur richtigen Stunde erleuchtet hat und mir die Kraft schenkte, das zu tun, was getan werden mußte.

Dem verdanken nicht nur Millionen deutscher Soldaten ihr Leben, sondern ganz Europa sein Dasein. Denn das darf ich heute aussprechen: wenn sich diese Welle von über 20.000 Panzern, Hunderten an Divisionen, Zehntausenden an Geschützen, begleitet von mehr als 10.000 Flugzeugen unversehens über das Reich hin in Bewegung gesetzt haben würde, wäre Europa verloren gewesen!

Das Schicksal hat eine Reihe von Völkern bestimmt, durch den Einsatz ihres Blutes diesem Stoß zuvorzukommen beziehungsweise ihn aufzufangen.

Hätte sich Finnland nicht sofort entschlossen, zum zweiten Male die Waffen zu ergreifen, dann würde die gemächliche Bürgerlichkeit der anderen nordischen Staaten schnell ihr Ende gefunden haben.

Wäre das Deutsche Reich nicht mit seinen Soldaten und Waffen vor diesen Gegner getreten, würde ein Strom über Europa gebrandet sein, der die lächerliche britische Idee der Aufrechterhaltung des europäischen Gleichgewichts in ihrer ganzen Geistlosigkeit und stupiden Tradition einmal für immer erledigt hätte.

Würden nicht Slowaken, Ungarn und Rumänen den Schutz dieser europäischen Welt mit übernommen haben, dann wären die bolschewistischen Horden wie der Hunnenschwarm eines Attila über die Donauländer gebraust, und an den Gefilden des Ionischen Meeres würden heute Tataren und Mongolen die Revision des Vertrages von Montreux erzwingen.

Hätten nicht Italien, Spanien, Kroatien ihre Divisionen gesendet, dann würde nicht eine Abwehr einer europäischen Front entstanden sein, die als Proklamation des Begriffs des neuen Europas ihre werbende Kraft auch auf alle anderen Völker ausstrahlen ließ. Aus diesem ahnungsvollen Erkennen heraus sind von Nord- und Westeuropa die Freiwilligen gekommen: Norweger, Dänen, Holländer, Flamen, Belgier usw., ja, selbst Franzosen, die den Kampf der verbündeten Mächte der Achse im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes den Charakter eines europäischen Kreuzzuges geben.

Es ist noch nicht die Zeit, über die Planung und Führung dieses Feldzuges zu sprechen. Allein ich glaube schon jetzt, in diesem gewaltigsten Kampfe aller Zeiten, bei dem sich durch die Größe des Raumes, die Vielzahl und Gewalt der Ereignisse nur zu leicht die einzelnen Eindrücke verwischen, in der Erinnerung verblassen, in wenigen Sätzen auf das Erreichte hinweisen zu dürfen.

Am 22. Juni begann im grauenden Morgen der Angriff. Mit unwiderstehlicher Kühnheit wurden jene Grenzbefestigungen durchstoßen, die bestimmt waren, den russischen Aufmarsch gegen uns vor jeder Überraschung zu sichern.

Schon am 23. Juni war Grodno gefallen.

Am 24. Juni waren nach der Einnahme von Brest-Litowsk die Zitadelle niedergekämpft und ebenso Wilna und Kowno genommen.

Am 26. Juni fiel Dünaburg.

Am 10. Juli wurden die ersten beiden großen Umfassungsschlachten bei Bialystok und Minsk abgeschlossen. 324.000 Gefangene, 3332 Panzer und 1809 Geschütze fielen in unsere Hand.

Schon am 13. Juli erfolgte an fast allen entscheidenden Stellen der Durchbruch durch die Stalin-Linie.

Am 16. fiel nach schweren Kämpfen Smolensk, während am 19. Juli deutsche und rumänische Verbände den Übergang über den Dnjestr erzwangen.

Am 6. August wurde in vielen Kesseln die Schlacht von Smolensk beendet. Wieder marschierten in deutsche Gefangenschaft 310.000 Russen, während 3205 Panzer und 3120 Geschütze teils als vernichtet, teils als Beute gezählt werden konnten.

Schon drei Tage später vollendete sich das Schicksal einer weiteren russischen Heeresgruppe.

Am 9. August wurden in der Schlacht von Uman wieder 103.000 Sowjetrussen gefangen, 317 Panzer, 1100 Geschütze zerstört oder erbeutet.

Am 17. August fiel Nikolajew, am 21. wurde Cherson genommen. Am selben Tag fand die Schlacht bei Gomel ihren Abschluß mit 84.000 Gefangenen und 144 Panzern und 848 Geschützen, die abermals teils erbeutet, teils vernichtet worden waren.

Am 21. August wurden die russischen Stellungen zwischen dem Ilmen- und Peipussee durchbrochen, während am 26. August der Brückenkopf um Dnjepropetrowsk in unsere Hände kam.

Schön am 28. desgleichen Monats zogen deutsche Truppen nach schweren Kämpfen in Reval und Baltisch-Port ein, während am 30. Viipuri durch die Firmen genommen wurde.

Mit der am 8. September erfolgten Eroberung von Schlüsselung wurde Leningrad endgültig auch nach dem Süden hin abgeschlossen.

Am 16. September gelang es, die Brückenköpfe über den Dnjepr zu bilden und schön am 18. September fiel Poltawa in die Hand unserer Soldaten.

Am 19. September erstürmten deutsche Verbände die Zitadelle von Kiew, und am 22. wurde die Eroberung von Ösel durch die Einnahme der Hauptstadt gekrönt. Nunmehr aber erst reiften die größten Operationen zu den erwarteten Erfolgen heran.

Am 27. September war die Schlacht bei Kiew abgeschlossen. 665.000 Gefangene setzten sich in endlosen Kolonnen nach Westen in Bewegung. 884 Panzer, 3178 Geschütze aber blieben in den Kesseln als Beute liegen.

Schon am 2. Oktober begann die Durchbruchsschlacht nunmehr in der Mitte der Ostfront, während am 11. Oktober die Schlacht am Asowschen Meer ihren erfolgreichen Abschluß fand.

Wieder wurden 107.000 Gefangene, 212 Panzer und 672 Geschütze gezählt.

Am 16. Oktober erfolgte nach hartem Kampf der Einzug der deutschen und rumänischen Verbände in Odessa.

Am 18. Oktober war die am 2. Oktober begonnene Durchbruchsschlacht in der Mitte der Ostfront mit einem neuen weltgeschichtlich einmaligen Erfolg beendet.

663.000 Gefangene waren das eine Ergebnis, 1242 Panzer, 5452 Geschütze teils vernichtet, und teils erbeutet das andere.

Am 21. Oktober wurde die Eroberung von Dagö abgeschlossen.

Am 24. Oktober das Industriezentrum Charkow genommen.

Am 28. Oktober in schwersten Kämpfen der Zugang zur Krim endgültig erzwungen und schon am 2. November die Hauptstadt Simferopol erstürmt.

Am 16. November war die Krim durchstoßen bis Kertsch.

Am 1. Dezember aber betrug die Gesamtzahl der gefangenen Sowjetrussen 3,806.865.

Die Zahl der vernichteten oder erbeuteten Panzer betrug 21.391, die der Geschütze 32.541 und die der Flugzeuge 17.322.

Im gleichen Zeitraum wurden 2191 britische Flugzeuge abgeschossen. Durch die Kriegsmarine 4,170.611 Bruttoregistertonnen, durch die Luftwaffe 2,346.180 Bruttoregistertonnen versenkt. Also zusammen: 6,516.791 Bruttoregistertonnen vernichtet.

Meine Abgeordneten! Mein deutsches Volk!

Das sind nüchterne Tatsachen und vielleicht trockene Zahlen. Mögen sie aber nie der Geschichte und vor allem dem Bewußtsein und der Erinnerung unseres eigenen deutschen Volkes entschwinden! Denn hinter diesen Zahlen verbergen sich die Leistungen, Opfer und Entbehrungen, stehen der Heldenmut und die Todesbereitschaft von Millionen der besten Männer unseres eigenen Volkes und der mit uns verbündeten Staaten.

Alles das mußte erkämpft werden mit dem Einsatz der Gesundheit und des Lebens und unter Anstrengungen, von denen die Heimat wohl kaum eine Ahnung hat.

In endlose Fernen marschierend, gequält von Hitze und Durst, oft fast bis zur Verzweiflung gehemmt durch den Schlamm grundloser Wege, vom Weißen bis zum Schwarzen Meer den Unbilden eines Klimas ausgesetzt, das von der Glut der Juli- und Augusttage sich senkte bis zu den Winterstürmen des November und Dezember, gepeinigt von Insekten, leidend unter Schmutz und Ungeziefer, frierend in Schnee und Eis, haben sie gekämpft, die Deutschen und die Finnen, die Italiener, Slowaken, Ungarn und Rumänen, die Kroaten, die Freiwilligen aus den nordischen und westeuropäischen Ländern, alles in allem: die Soldaten der Ostfront! Der Einbruch des Winters allein wird dieser Bewegung nunmehr eine Hemmung auferlegen. Der Einbruch des Sommers wird die Bewegung wieder nicht mehr verhindern können.

Ich will an diesem Tag keine einzelnen Waffen nennen, will keine Führung rühmen, sie haben alle ihr Höchstes gegeben. Und doch verpflichten Einsicht und Gerechtigkeit, eines immer wieder festzustellen: von all unseren deutschen Soldaten trägt so wie einst auch heute die schwerste Last des Kampfes unsere einzig dastehende Infanterie.

Vom 22. Juni bis 1. Dezember hat das deutsche Heer in diesem Heldenkampf verloren: 158.773 Tote, 563.082 Verwundete und 31.191 Vermißte.

Die Luftwaffe: 3231 Tote, 8453 Verwundete und 2028 Vermißte.

Die Kriegsmarine: 310 Tote, 232 Verwundete und 115 Vermißte.

Mithin die deutsche Wehrmacht zusammen: 162.314 Tote, 571.767 Verwundete und 33.334 Vermißte.

Also an Toten und Verwundeten etwas mehr als das Doppelte der Somme-Schlacht des Weltkrieges, an Vermißten etwas weniger als die Hälfte der damaligen Zahl, alles aber Väter und Söhne unseres deutschen Volkes.

Und nun lassen Sie mich dem gegenüber zu jener anderen Welt Stellung nehmen, die ihren Repräsentanten in dem Mann hat, der, während die Völker und ihre Soldaten im Schnee und Eis kämpfen, in taktvoller Weise vom Kaminfeuer aus zu plaudern pflegt und damit also vor allem von jenem Mann, der der Hauptschuldige an diesem Kriege ist.

Als sich im Jahre 1939 die Lage der Nationalitäten im damaligen polnischen Staat als immer unerträglicher erwies, versuchte ich zunächst auf dem Wege eines billigen Ausgleichs die untragbar gewordenen Zustände zu beseitigen. Es schien eine gewisse Zeit so, als ob die polnische Regierung selber ernstlich erwogen hätte, einer vernünftigen Lösung zuzustimmen. Ich darf hier noch einfügen, daß bei all diesen Vorschlägen von deutscher Seite nichts gefordert wurde, was nicht schon früher deutsches Eigentum gewesen war, ja, daß wir im Gegenteil auf sehr viel Verzicht leisteten, was vor dem Weltkrieg Deutschland gehörte.

Sie erinnern sich noch der dramatischen Entwicklung dieser Zeit, der sich fortgesetzt erhöhenden Opfer der deutschen Volksgruppe. Sie sind, meine Abgeordneten, am besten in der Lage, die Schwere dieser Blutopfer zu ermessen, wenn Sie sie in Vergleich setzen zu den Opfern des jetzigen Krieges.

Denn der bisherige Feldzug im Osten hat die gesamte deutsche Wehrmacht rund 160.000 Tote gekostet, allein im tiefsten Frieden sind damals in wenigen Monaten in Polen über 62.000 Volksdeutsche zum Teil unter den grausamsten Martern getötet worden.

Daß das Deutsche Reich ein Recht besaß, solche Zustände an seiner Grenze zu beanstanden und auf ihre Beseitigung zu drängen, überhaupt auch auf seine Sicherheit bedacht zu sein, dürfte wohl kaum bestritten werden in einer Zeit, in der andere Länder Elemente ihrer Sicherheit sogar in fremden Kontinenten suchen. Die Probleme, die korrigiert werden sollten, waren territorial genommen unbedeutend. Im wesentlichen handelte es sich um Danzig und um die Verbindung der abgerissenen Provinz Ostpreußen mit dem übrigen Reich. Schwerer wogen die grausamen Verfolgungen, denen die Deutschen gerade in Polen ausgesetzt waren.

Ein nicht minder schweres Schicksal hatten dort übrigens auch die anderen Minoritäten zu erdulden.

Als sich nun in den Augusttagen die Haltung Polens dank der als Blankovollmacht ausgestellten Garantie Englands immer mehr versteifte, sah sich die deutsche Reichsregierung, und zwar zum letztenmal, veranlaßt, einen Vorschlag zu unterbreiten, auf Grund dessen sie bereit war, in Verhandlungen mit Polen einzutreten und von dem sie dem damaligen englischen Botschafter wörtlich Kenntnis gab.

Ich darf diese Vorschläge am heutigen Tage der Vergessenheit entreißen und sie Ihnen wieder zur Erinnerung bringen. Vorschlag für eine Regelung des Danzig-Korridor-Problems sowie der deutsch-polnischen Minderheitenfrage.

Die Lage zwischen dem Deutschen Reich und Polen ist zur Zeit so, daß jeder weitere Zwischenfall zu einer Entladung der beiderseits in Stellung gegangenen militärischen Streitkräfte führen kann. Jede friedliche Lösung muß so beschaffen sein, daß sich nicht bei nächster Gelegenheit die diesen Zustand ursächlich bedingenden Ereignisse wiederholen können und dadurch nicht nur der Osten Europas, sondern auch andere Gebiete in die gleiche Spannung versetzt werden.

Die Ursachen dieser Entwicklung liegen

1. in der unmöglichen Grenzziehung, wie sie durch das Versailler Diktat vorgenommen wurde,
2. in der unmöglichen Behandlung der Minderheit in den abgetrennten Gebieten.

Ich komme nun zu den Vorschlägen selbst.

[NormanStewart]

Aus diesen Erwägungen ergeben sich folgende praktische Vorschläge:

1. Die Freie Stadt Danzig kehrt auf Grund ihres rein deutschen Charakters sowie des einmütigen Willens ihrer Bevölkerung sofort in das Deutsche Reich zurück.

2. Das Gebiet des sogenannten Korridors, das von der Ostsee bis zu der Linie Marienwerder-Graudenz-Kulm-Bromberg (diese Städte einschließlich) und dann etwa westlich nach Schönlanke reicht, wird über seine Zugehörigkeit zu Deutschland oder zu Polen selbst entscheiden.

3. Zu diesem Zweck wird dieses Gebiet eine Abstimmung vornehmen. Abstimmungsberechtigt sind alle Deutschen, die am 1. Januar 1918 in diesem Gebiete wohnhaft waren, oder bis zu diesem Tage dort geboren wurden, und desgleichen alle an diesem Tage geborenen Polen, Kaschuben usw. Die aus diesem Gebiet vertriebenen Deutschen kehren zur Erfüllung ihrer Abstimmung zurück.

   Zur Sicherung einer objektiven Abstimmung sowie zur Gewährleistung der dafür notwendigen umfangreichen Vorarbeiten wird dieses erwähnte Gebiet ähnlich dem Saargebiet einer sofort zu bildenden Internationalen Kommission unterstellt, die von den vier Großmächten Italien, Sowjetunion, Frankreich, England gebildet wird. Diese Kommission übt alle Hoheitsrechte in diesem Gebiet aus. Zu dem Zweck ist dieses Gebiet in einer zu vereinbarenden kürzesten Frist von den polnischen Militärs, der polnischen Polizei und den polnischen Behörden zu räumen.

4. Von diesem Gebiet bleibt ausgenommen der polnische Hafen Gdingen, der grundsätzlich polnisches Hoheitsgebiet ist, insoweit er sich territorial auf die polnische Siedlung beschränkt.

   Die näheren Grenzen dieser polnischen Hafenstadt wären zwischen Deutschland und Polen festzulegen und nötigenfalls durch ein internationales Schiedsgericht festzusetzen.

5. Um die notwendige Zeit für die erforderlichen umfangreichen Arbeiten zur Durchführung einer gerechten Abstimmung sicherzustellen, wird diese Abstimmung nicht vor Ablauf von zwölf Monaten stattfinden.

6. Um während dieser Zeit Deutschland seine Verbindung mit Ostpreußen und Polen seine Verbindung mit dem Meere unbeschränkt zu garantieren, werden Straßen und Eisenbahnen festgelegt, die einen freien Transitverkehr ermöglichen. Hierbei dürfen nur jene Abgaben erhoben werden, die für die Erhaltung der Verkehrswege, und für die Durchführung der Transporte erforderlich sind.

7. Über die Zugehörigkeit des Gebietes entscheidet die einfache Mehrheit der abgegebenen Stimmen.

8. Um nach erfolgter Abstimmung – ganz gleich, wie diese ausgehen möge – die Sicherheit des freien Verkehrs Deutschlands mit seiner Provinz Danzig-Ostpreußen und Polen seine Verbindung mit dem Meere zu garantieren, wird, falls das Abstimmungsgebiet an Polen fällt, Deutschland eine exterritoriale Verkehrszone, etwa in Richtung von Bütow-Danzig, beziehungsweise Dirschau, gegeben, zur Anlage einer Reichsautobahn sowie einer viergleisigen Eisenbahnlinie. Der Bau der Straße und der Eisenbahn wird so durchgeführt, daß die polnischen Kommunikationswege dadurch nicht berührt, das heißt entweder über- oder unterfahren werden. Die Breite dieser Zone wird auf einen Kilometer festgesetzt und ist deutsches Hoheitsgebiet.

   Fällt die Abstimmung zugunsten Deutschlands aus, erhält Polen zum freien und uneingeschränkten Verkehr nach seinem Hafen Gdingen die gleichen Rechte einer ebenso exterritorialen Straßen- beziehungsweise Bahnverbindung, wie sie Deutschland zustehen würden.

9. Im Falle des Zurückfallens des Korridors an das Deutsche Reich erklärt sich dieses bereit, einen Bevölkerungsaustausch mit Polen in dem Ausmaß vorzunehmen, als der Korridor hierfür geeignet ist.

10. Die etwa von Polen gewünschten Sonderrechte im Hafen von Danzig würden paritätisch ausgehandelt werden, mit gleichen Rechten Deutschlands im Hafen von Gdingen.

11. Um in diesem Gebiet jedes Gefühl einer Bedrohung auf beiden Seiten zu beseitigen, würden Danzig und Gdingen den Charakter reiner Handelsstädte erhalten, das heißt ohne militärische Anlagen und militärische Befestigungen.

12. Die Halbinsel Hela, die entsprechend der Abstimmung entweder zu Polen oder zu Deutschland käme, würde in jedem Fall ebenfalls zu demilitarisieren sein.

Das gleiche betrifft die Vorschläge über die Sicherung der Minoritäten. Es ist dies ein Vertragsvorschlag, wie er loyaler, großzügiger überhaupt von keiner Regierung gemacht werden konnte als von der nationalsozialistischen Führung des Deutschen Reiches.

Die damalige polnische Regierung hat es abgelehnt, auf diese Vorschläge auch nur zu reagieren. Es erhebt sich dabei aber doch die Frage. Wie konnte es ein so unbedeutender Staat wagen, solche Vorschläge einfach zu negieren und darüber hinaus nicht nur zu weiteren Grausamkeiten gegenüber den Deutschen, die diesem Lande die ganze Kultur geschenkt hatten, zu greifen, sondern sogar noch die allgemeine Mobilmachung anzuordnen?

Der Einblick in die Dokumente des Auswärtigen Amtes in Warschau hat uns allen später die überraschende Aufklärung gegeben: Ein Mann war es, der mit teuflischer Gewissenlosigkeit seinen gesamten Einfluß zur Anwendung brachte, um Polen in seinem Widerstand zu bestärken und jede Möglichkeit einer Verständigung auszuschalten.

Die Berichte, die der damalige polnische Gesandte in Washington, Graf Potocki, seiner Regierung in Warschau schickte, sind Dokumente, aus denen mit erschreckender Deutlichkeit hervorgeht, wie sehr ein einziger Mann und die ihn treibenden Kräfte mit der Verantwortung für den zweiten Weltkrieg belastet sind.

Es erhebt sich zunächst die Frage, aus welchen Gründen konnte dieser Mann in eine so fanatische Feindschaft gegenüber einem Land verfallen, das bisher in seiner ganzen Geschichte weder Amerika noch ihm selbst irgendein Leid zugefügt hatte? Soweit es sich um die Stellung Deutschlands zu Amerika handelt, ist folgendes zu sagen:

1. Deutschland ist vielleicht die einzige Großmacht, die weder auf dein nord- noch südamerikanischen Kontinent jemals eine Kolonie besessen oder sich sonst politisch betätigt hat, es sei denn durch die Auswanderung vieler Millionen Deutscher und deren Mitarbeit, aus der der amerikanische Kontinent, insonderheit die Vereinigten Staaten aber nur Nutzen gezogen haben.

2. Das Deutsche Reich hat in der ganzen Geschichte der Entstehung und des Bestehens der Vereinigten Staaten niemals eine politisch ablehnende oder gar feindliche Haltung eingenommen, wohl aber mit dem Blut vieler seiner Söhne mitgeholfen, die Vereinigten Staaten zu verteidigen.

3. Das Deutsche Reich hat sich an keinem Krieg gegen die Vereinigten Staaten selbst beteiligt, wohl aber wurde es von den Vereinigten Staaten im Jahre 1917 mit Krieg überzogen, und zwar aus Gründen, die durch einen Ausschuß restlos aufgeklärt worden sind, den der jetzige Präsident Roosevelt zur Prüfung dieser Frage selbst eingesetzt hatte.

Gerade dieser Untersuchungsausschuß zur Klärung der Gründe des amerikanischen Kriegseintritts hat einwandfrei festgestellt, daß diese für den amerikanischen Kriegseintritt 1917 ausschließlich auf dem Gebiet der kapitalistischen Interessen einiger kleiner Gruppen lagen, daß Deutschland selbst jedenfalls keinerlei Absicht hatte, mit Amerika in einen Konflikt zu geraten.

Auch sonst gibt es zwischen dem amerikanischen und dem deutschen Volk keine Gegensätze, seien sie territorialer oder politischer Art, die irgendwie die Interessen oder gar die Existenz der Vereinigten Staaten berühren könnten.

Die Verschiedenheit der Staatsformen war immer gegeben. Sie kann aber überhaupt nicht als ein Grund für Feindseligkeiten im Völkerleben herangezogen werden, solange sich nicht eine Staatsform bemüht, außerhalb des ihr natürlich gegebenen Bereiches in andere einzugreifen.

Amerika ist eine von einem Präsidenten mit großer autoritärer Vollmacht geleitete Republik. Deutschland war einst eine von einer bedingten Autorität geführte Monarchie, später eine autoritätslose Demokratie, heute eine von starker Autorität geführte Republik. Zwischen beiden Staaten liegt ein Ozean. Die Divergenzen zwischen dem kapitalistischen Amerika und dem bolschewistischen Rußland müßten, wenn überhaupt diese Begriffe etwas Wahres an sich hätten, wesentlich größer sein als zwischen dem von einem Präsidenten geführten Amerika und dem von einem Führer geleiteten Deutschland.

Es ist nun aber eine Tatsache, daß die beiden historischen Konflikte zwischen Deutschland und den Vereinigten Staaten, wenn auch von der gleichen Kraft inspiriert, doch ausschließlich durch zwei Männer der USA angefacht worden sind, nämlich durch den Präsidenten Wilson und durch Franklin Roosevelt.

Das Urteil über Wilson hat die Geschichte selbst gesprochen. Sein Name bleibt verbunden mit einem der gemeinsten Wortbrüche aller Zeiten. Die Folgen seines Wortbruchs waren eine Zerrüttung des Lebens der Völker nicht nur bei den sogenannten Besiegten, sondern auch bei den Siegern selbst. Das durch seinen Wortbruch allein ermöglichte Diktat von Versailles hat Staaten zerrissen, Kulturen zerstört und die Wirtschaft aller ruiniert.

Wir wissen heute, daß hinter Wilson eine Gesellschaft interessierter Finanziers stand, die sich dieses paralytischen Professors bedienten, um Amerika in den Krieg zu führen, von dem sie sich erhöhte Geschäfte erhofften.

Daß das deutsche Volk diesem Mann einst geglaubt hatte, mußte es mit dem Zusammenbruch seiner politischen und wirtschaftlichen Existenz bezahlen.

Welches ist nun der Grund, daß nach so bitterem Erfahren sich wieder ein Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten findet, der erneut seine einzige Aufgabe darin sieht, Kriege entstehen zu lassen und vor allem die Feindschaft gegen Deutschland bis zum Kriegsausbruch zu steigern?

Der Nationalsozialismus kam in Deutschland im selben Jahre zur Macht, an dem Roosevelt zum Präsidenten der Vereinigten Staaten gewählt wurde. Es ist nun wichtig, die Momente zu prüfen, die als Ursache der heutigen Entwicklung angesehen werden müssen. Zunächst die persönliche Seite:

Ich verstehe nur zu wohl, daß zwischen der Lebensauffassung und Einstellung des Präsidenten Roosevelt und meiner eigenen ein weltweiter Abstand ist.

Roosevelt stammt aus einer steinreichen Familie, gehörte von vornherein zu jener Klasse von Menschen, denen Geburt und Herkunft in den Demokratien den Weg des Lebens ebnen und damit den Aufstieg sichern.

Ich selbst war nur das Kind einer kleinen und armen Familie und mußte mir unter unsäglichen Mühen durch Arbeit und Fleiß meinen Weg erkämpfen.

Als der Weltkrieg kam, hatte Roosevelt in einer unter dem Schatten Wilsons befindlichen Stellung den Krieg aus der Sphäre des Verdienenden miterlebt. Er kennt daher nur die angenehmen Folgen der Auseinandersetzung von Völkern und Staaten, die sich für den hergeben, der dort Geschäfte macht, wo andere verbluten.

In dieser gleichen Zeit war mein eigenes Leben wieder auf der ganz anderen Seite gelegen. Ich gehörte nicht zu denen, die Geschichte oder gar Geschäfte machten, sondern nur zu denen, die Befehle ausführten.

Als gewöhnlicher Soldat habe ich mich bemüht, in diesen vier Jahren vor dem Feinde meine Pflicht zu erfüllen, und kehrte aus dem Kriege natürlich gerade so arm zurück, wie ich im Herbst 1914 in ihn gezogen war. Ich habe also mein Schicksal mit dem von Millionen geteilt, Herr Franklin Roosevelt das Seine mit dem der sogenannten oberen Zehntausend. Während Herr Roosevelt nach dem Kriege schon seine Fähigkeiten in Finanzspekulationen erprobte, um aus der Inflation, das heißt dem Elend der anderen, persönlichen Nutzen zu ziehen, lag ich noch, ebenfalls wie viele andere Hunderttausend, im Lazarett.

Und als Herr Roosevelt endlich die Laufbahn des normalen geschäftlich erfahrenen, wirtschaftlich fundierten, herkunftsmäßig protegierten Politikers beschritt, kämpfte ich als namenloser Unbekannter für die Wiedererhebung meines Volkes, dem das schwerste Unrecht in seiner ganzen Geschichte angetan worden war.

Zwei Lebenswege! Als Franklin Roosevelt an die Spitze der Vereinigten Staaten trat, war er der Kandidat einer durch und durch kapitalistischen Partei, die sich seiner bediente. Und als ich Kanzler des Deutschen Reiches wurde, war ich der Führer einer Volksbewegung, die ich selbst geschaffen hatte!

Die Kräfte, die Herrn Roosevelt trugen, waren die Kräfte, die ich auf Grund des Schicksals meines Volkes und meiner heiligsten inneren Überzeugung bekämpfte. Der „Gehirntrust“, dessen sich der neue amerikanische Präsident bedienten mußte, bestand aus Angehörigen desselben Volkes, das wir als eine parasitäre Erscheinung der Menschheit in Deutschland bekämpften und aus dem öffentlichen Leben zu entfernen begannen.

Und doch hatten wir beide etwas Gemeinsames: Franklin Roosevelt übernahm Staat mit einer infolge der demokratischen Einflüsse verfallenen Wirtschaft, und ich trat an die Spitze eines Reiches, das sich ebenfalls dank der Demokratie vor dem vollkommenen Ruin befand.

Die Vereinigten Staaten besaßen 13 Millionen Erwerbslose, Deutschland 7 Millionen und allerdings noch weitere 7 Millionen Kurzarbeiter.

In beiden Staaten waren die öffentlichen Finanzen zerrüttet, das Absinken des allgemeinen wirtschaftlichen Lebens schien kaum mehr aufzuhalten.

In diesem Moment beginnt in den Vereinigten Staaten und im Deutschen Reich nunmehr eine Entwicklung, die es der Nachwelt leicht machen wird, über die Richtigkeit der Theorien ein abschließendes Urteil zu fällen.

Während im Deutschen Reich unter der nationalsozialistischen Führung in wenigen Jahren ein ungeheurer Aufstieg des Lebens, der Wirtschaft, der Kultur, der Kunst usw. einsetzte, war es dem Präsidenten Roosevelt nicht gelungen, auch nur die geringsten Verbesserungen in seinem eigenen Lande herbeizuführen.

Wieviel leichter aber mußte diese Arbeit in den Vereinigten Staaten sein, in denen knapp fünfzehn Menschen auf dem Quadratkilometer leben gegenüber 140 in Deutschland.

Wenn es in diesem Lande nicht gelingt, eine wirtschaftliche Blüte herbeizuführen, dann hängt es nur zusammen entweder mit dem schlechten Willen einer herrschenden Führung oder mit einer vollkommenen Unfähigkeit der berufenen Menschen.

In knapp fünf Jahren waren in Deutschland die wirtschaftlichen Probleme gelöst und die Erwerbslosigkeit beseitigt.

In derselben Zeit hat der Präsident Roosevelt die Staatsschulden seines Landes auf das ungeheuerlichste erhöht, den Dollar entwertet, die Wirtschaft noch mehr zerrüttet und die Erwerbslosenzahl beibehalten.

Dies ist aber nicht verwunderlich, wenn man bedenkt, daß die Geister, die dieser Mann zu seiner Unterstützung gerufen hat oder besser, die ihn gerufen hatten, zu jenen Elementen gehören, die als Juden ein Interesse nur an der Zerrüttung und niemals an der Ordnung besitzen können! Während wir im nationalsozialistischen Deutschland die Spekulation bekämpften, erlebte sie unter der Ära Roosevelts eine staunenswerte Blüte.

Die Gesetzgebung des New Deals dieses Mannes war falsch und damit der größte Fehlschlag, den je ein Mann erlitten hatte. Es gibt keinen Zweifel darüber, daß eine Fortsetzung dieser Wirtschaftspolitik in Friedenszeiten diesen Präsidenten früher oder später trotz aller seiner dialektischen Geschicklichkeit zum Scheitern gebracht haben würde.

In europäischen Staaten würde er sicherlich sein Ende vor dem Staatsgerichtshof wegen willkürlicher Verschleuderung des nationalen Vermögens gefunden haben. Vor einem bürgerlichen Gericht aber wegen schuldhafter Geschäftsgebarung dem Gefängnis kaum entgangen sein.

Dieses Urteil oder besser diese Erkenntnis besitzen auch viele und auch angesehene Amerikaner!

Eine drohende Opposition braute sich über dem Haupt dieses Mannes zusammen. Sie ließ ihn ahnen, daß nur eine Ablenkung der Aufmerksamkeit der öffentlichen Meinung von seiner inneren Politik zur äußeren hin Rettung bringen könnte.

Es ist interessant, in diesem Zusammenhang die Berichte des polnischen Gesandten Potocki aus Washington zu studieren, der immer wieder darauf hinweist, daß sich Roosevelt der Gefahr des Zusammenbruchs seines ganzen wirtschaftlichen Kartenhauses genau bewußt sei und deshalb unter allen Umständen eine außenpolitische Ablenkung benötige.

Er wurde darin bestärkt durch den Kreis der ihn umgebenden Juden, die aus alttestamentarischer Rachsucht in den Vereinigten Staaten das Instrument zu sehen glaubten, um mit ihm den europäischen, immer antisemitischer werdenden Nationen ein zweites Purim bereiten zu können. Es war der Jude in seiner ganzen satanischen Niedertracht, der sich um diesen Mann scharte, und nach dem dieser Mann aber auch griff.

So beginnt denn steigend der Einfluß des amerikanischen Präsidenten sich in dem Sinne auszuwirken, Konflikte zu schaffen oder vorhandene Konflikte zu vertiefen, auf alle Fälle aber zu verhindern, daß Konflikte eine friedliche Lösung finden. Jahrelang hat dieser Mann nur einen einzigen Wunsch, daß irgendwo in der Welt ein Streit ausbricht, am besten in Europa, der ihm die Möglichkeit gibt, durch Verpflichtung der amerikanischen Wirtschaft an einen der beiden Streitenden eine politische Interessenverflechtung herzustellen, die geeignet sein konnte, Amerika einem solchen Konflikt langsam näherzubringen und damit die Aufmerksamkeit von seiner zerfahrenen Wirtschaftspolitik im Inneren nach außen hin abzulenken.

Besonders brüskant wird sein Vorgehen in diesem Sinne gegen das Deutsche Reich. Vom Jahre 1937 ab setzten eine Anzahl von Reden ein, darunter eine besonders niederträchtige vom 5. Oktober 1937 in Chikago, in denen dieser Mann planmäßig beginnt, die amerikanische Öffentlichkeit gegen Deutschland aufzuhetzen. Er droht mit der Aufrichtung einer Art von Quarantäne gegen die sogenannten autoritären Staaten.

Im Vollzug dieser sich nun dauernd steigernden Haß- und Hetzpolitik des Präsidenten Roosevelt beruft er nach neuerlichen beleidigenden Erklärungen den amerikanischen Botschafter in Berlin zur Berichterstattung nach Washington. Seitdem sind die beiden Staaten nur noch durch Geschäftsträger miteinander verbunden.

Vom November 1938 ab beginnt er planmäßig und bewußt jede Möglichkeit einer europäischen Befriedungspolitik zu sabotieren. Er heuchelt dabei nach außen hin Interesse am Frieden, droht aber jedem Staat, der bereit ist, die Politik einer friedlichen Verständigung zu betreiben, mit Sperrung von Anleihen, mit wirtschaftlichen Repressalien, mit Kündigung von Darlehen usw.

Hier geben einen erschütternden Einblick die Berichte der polnischen Botschafter in Washington, London, Paris und Brüssel.

Im Januar 1939 beginnt dieser Mann seine Hetzkampagne zu verstärken und droht mit allen Maßnahmen vor dem Kongreß, gegen die autoritären Staaten vorzugehen, außer mit Krieg.

Während er dauernd behauptet, daß andere Staaten versuchten, sich in amerikanische Angelegenheiten einzumischen, und auf die Aufrechterhaltung der Monroe-Doktrin pocht, beginnt er seit dem März 1939 in innereuropäische Angelegenheiten hineinzureden, die den Präsidenten der Vereinigten Staaten überhaupt nichts angehen.

Erstens versteht er diese Probleme nicht und zweitens, selbst wenn er sie verstünde und die geschichtlichen Hergänge begriffe, hätte er ebenso wenig das Recht, sich um den mitteleuropäischen Raum zu bekümmern, wie etwa das deutsche Staatsoberhaupt ein Recht hat, über die Verhältnisse in einem Staate der USA zu urteilen oder gar zu ihnen Stellung zu nehmen.

Ja, Herr Roosevelt geht noch weiter! Entgegen allen völkerrechtlichen Bestimmungen erklärt er, Regierungen, die ihm nicht passen, nicht anzuerkennen, Neuordnungen nicht entgegenzunehmen, Gesandtschaften von längst aufgelösten Staaten zu belassen oder gar als rechtmäßige Regierungen einzusetzen. Ja, endlich geht er soweit, mit solchen Gesandten Verträge abzuschließen, die ihm dann sogar das Recht geben, fremde Territorien einfach zu besetzen.

Am 15. April 1939 kam der berühmte Appell Roosevelts an mich und den Duce, der eine Mischung von geographischer und politischer Unkenntnis einerseits, gepaart mit der Arroganz eines Angehörigen bestimmter Millionärskreise anderseits, darstellt und in dem wir aufgefordert wurden, Erklärungen abzugeben, und mit beliebigen Staaten Nichtangriffspakte zu schließen. Dabei zum großen Teil mit Staaten, die überhaupt nicht im Besitz ihrer Freiheit waren, weil sie von den Bundesgenossen des Herrn Roosevelt entweder annektiert oder in Protektorate verwandelt worden sind.

Sie erinnern sich, meine Abgeordnete, daß ich damals diesem zudringlichen Herrn eine ebenso höfliche wie deutliche Antwort gab, was immerhin wenigstens für einige Monate den Strom der Redseligkeit dieses biederen Kriegshetzers abstoppte.

An seine Stelle trat aber nun die ehrenwerte Frau Gemahlin. Sie lehnte es ab, mit ihren Söhnen in einer Welt leben zu wollen, wie wir sie besitzen. Das ist allerdings verständlich, denn dies ist eine Welt der Arbeit, nicht eine solche des Betruges und der Schiebungen. Nach kurzer Erholung aber setzt dann der Mann dieser Frau dafür am 4. November 1939 die Abänderung des Neutralitätsgesetzes so durch, daß nunmehr das Waffenausfuhrverbot aufgehoben wird, und zwar zugunsten einer einseitigen Belieferung der Gegner Deutschlands.

Er beginnt dann, so ähnlich wie in Ostasien mit China, auch hier über den Umweg einer wirtschaftlichen Verflechtung eine früher oder später wirksam werdende Interessengemeinschaft herzustellen. Schon im selben Monat erkennt er einen Haufen von polnischen Emigranten als sogenannte Exilregierung an, deren einziges politisches Fundament ein paar Millionen von Warschau mitgenommene polnischer Goldstücke gewesen ist.

Schon am 9. April geht er weiter und verfügt nunmehr eine Sperrung der norwegischen und dänischen Guthaben mit dem verlogenen Vorwand, einen deutschen Zugriff dadurch zu verhindern, obwohl ihm genau bekannt ist, daß zum Beispiel die dänische Regierung in ihrer Vermögensverwaltung von Deutschland überhaupt nicht beachtet, geschweige denn kontrolliert wird.

Zu den verschiedenen Exilregierungen wird nun weiter von ihm auch noch eine norwegische anerkannt. Schon am 15. Mai 1940 kommen zu diesen nun auch noch holländische und belgische Emigrantenregierungen, und ebenso tritt eine Sperrung der holländischen und belgischen Guthaben ein.

[NormanStewart]

Allein die wahre Gesinnung dieses Mannes enthüllt sich erst in einem Telegramm vom 15. Juni an den französischen Ministerpräsidenten Reynaud. Er teilt ihm mit, daß die amerikanische Regierung die Hilfeleistungen an Frankreich verdoppeln wird, vorausgesetzt, daß Frankreich den Krieg gegen Deutschland fortsetzt. Um diesem Wunsch nach Kriegsverlängerung noch besonders Nachdruck zu geben, gibt er die Erklärung ab, daß die amerikanische Regierung die Ergebnisse der Eroberung das heißt also die Rückgewinnung zum Beispiel der einst Deutschland geraubten Gebiete, nicht anerkennen werde. Ich brauche Ihnen nicht zu versichern, meine Herren Abgeordneten, daß es jeder deutschen Regierung gänzlich gleichgültig ist, ob der Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten eine Grenze in Europa anerkennt oder nicht, und auch in der Zukunft gleichgültig sein wird!

Ich führe den Fall nur zur Charakterisierung der planmäßigen Hetze dieses Mannes an, der von Frieden heuchelt und ewig nur zum Kriege hetzt. Denn nun Überfällt ihn die Angst, daß im Falle des Zustandekommens eines europäischen Friedens die Milliardenvergeudung seiner Aufrüstung in kurzer Zeit als glatter Betrug erkannt wird, da niemand Amerika dann angreift, wenn dieses nicht selbst den Angriff provoziert!

Am 17. Juni 1940 verfügt der Präsident der Vereinigen Staaten die Sperrung der französischen Guthaben. uni, wie er sich ausdrückt, sie dem deutschen Zugriff zu entziehen, in Wirklichkeit aber, um mit Hilfe eines amerikanischen Kreuzers das Gold von Casablanca nach Amerika abzuführen.

Vom Juli 1940 steigern sich die Maßnahmen Roosevelts immer mehr, um, sei es durch den Eintritt amerikanischer Staatsangehöriger in die britische Luftwaffe oder durch die Ausbildung von englischem Flugpersonal in den Vereinigten Staaten, den Weg zum Kriege selbst zu finden. Und schon im August 1940 erfolgt die gemeinsame Aufstellung eines militärischen Programms für die Vereinigten Staaten und Kanada. Um aber nun die Bildung eines amerikanisch-kanadischen Verteidigungskomitees wenigstens den größten Dummköpfen plausibel erscheinen zu lassen, erfindet er von Zeit zu Zeit Krisen, in denen er tut, als ob Amerika von einem Überfall bedroht sei, was er seinem – schon wirklich erbarmungswürdigen – Anhang dadurch einsuggeriert, daß er plötzlich Reisen abbricht, in höchster Eile nach Washington zurückfährt, um solcherart die Gefährlichkeit der Situation zu unterstreichen.

Im September 1940 nähert er sich dem Krieg noch mehr. Er tritt an die englische Flotte 50 Zerstörer der amerikanischen Flotte ab, wofür er allerdings militärische Stützpunkte in den britischen Besitzungen von Nord- und Mittelamerika übernimmt. Wie denn überhaupt eines erst die Nachwelt klären wird, nämlich inwieweit bei all diesem Haß gegen das soziale Deutschland auch noch die Absicht mitspielt, das britische Empire in der Stunde des Verfalls möglichst sicher und gefahrlos übernehmen zu können.

Nachdem nun England nicht mehr in der Lage ist, mit barem Gelde amerikanische Lieferungen bezahlen zu können, preßt er dem amerikanischen Volk das Pacht- und Leihgesetz auf. Als Präsident erhält er nun Vollmachten zur pacht- und leihweisen Unterstützung der Länder, deren Verteidigung ihm, Roosevelt, für Amerika als lebenswichtig erscheinen.

Allein im März 1941 geht dieser Mann, nachdem Deutschland unter keinen Umständen zu bewegen ist, auf seine fortgesetzten Anflegelungen zu reagieren, wieder einen Schritt weiter.

Schon am 19. Dezember 1939 haben amerikanische Kreuzer innerhalb der Sicherheitszone den Dampfer „Columbus“ britischen Kriegsschiffen in die Hände gespielt. Er mußte deshalb versenkt werden. Am selben Tage haben USA-Streitkräfte mitgewirkt bei dem Aufbringungsversuch des deutschen Dampfers „Arauca“. Am 27. Januar 1940 hat der USA-Kreuzer „Trenton“ wieder völkerrechtswidrig von Bewegungen der deutschen Handelsdampfer „Arauca“, „La Plata“ und „Wangoni“ die feindlichen Seestreitkräfte unterrichtet.

Am 27. Juni 1940 verfügte er vollständig völkerrechtswidrig eine Beschränkung der Freizügigkeit ausländischer Handelsschiffe in USA-Häfen.

Im November 1940 ließ er die deutschen Dampfer „Phrygia“, „Idarwald“ und „Rhein“ durch USA-Kriegsschiffe solange verfolgen, bis sich diese Dampfer selbst versenken mußten, um nicht dem Feind in die Hand zu fallen.

Am 13. April 1941 erfolgte die Freigabe des Verkehrs durch das Rote Meer für USA-Schiffe zur Versorgung der britischen Armeen im Nahen Osten.

Im Monat März war unterdes bereits die Beschlagnahme aller deutschen Schiffe durch die amerikanischen Behörden erfolgt. Deutsche Reichsangehörige wurden dabei in der entwürdigten Weise behandelt, ihnen gänzlich völkerrechtswidrig bestimmte Aufenthaltsorte angewiesen, Reisebeschränkungen auferlegt usw.

Zwei aus kanadischer Gefangenschaft entkommene deutsche Offiziere wurden ebenfalls entgegen allen völkerrechtlichen Bestimmungen gefesselt und wieder an die kanadischen Behörden ausgeliefert. Am 27. März begrüßt derselbe Präsident, der gegen jede Aggression ist, die durch eine Aggression in Belgrad nach dem Sturz der legalen Regierung ans Ruder gekommene Putschistenclique Simowitsch und Genossen.

Der Präsident Roosevelt schickte schon monatelang vorher den Oberst Donovan, ein vollständig minderwertiges Subjekt, in seinem Auftrag auf den Balkan, um dort zu versuchen, in Sofia und in Belgrad einen Aufstand gegen Deutschland und Italien herbeizuführen.

Er verspricht darauf im April Jugoslawien und Griechenland Hilfe auf Grund des Leih- und Pachtgesetzes. Noch Ende April erkennt dieser Mann die jugoslawischen und griechischen Emigranten wieder als Exilregierung an und sperrt im übrigen erneut völkerrechtswidrig die jugoslawischen und griechischen Guthaben. Von Mitte April ab erfolgt außerdem eine weitere Überwachung des Westatlantiks durch USA-Patrouillen und deren Meldungen an die Engländer.

Am 26. April liefert Roosevelt an England 20 Schnellboote und zugleich finden laufend Reparaturen britischer Kriegsschiffe in USA-Häfen statt. Am 12. Mai erfolgt die völkerrechtswidrige Bewaffnung und Reparatur norwegischer Dampfer, die für England fahren. Am 4. Juni treffen amerikanische Truppentransporte in Grönland zum Flugplatzbau ein, und am 9. Juni kommt die erste englische Meldung, daß auf Grund eines Befehls des Präsidenten Roosevelt ein USA-Kriegsschiff ein deutsches U-Boot bei Grönland mit Wasserbomben bekämpft habe.

Am 14. Juni erfolgt wieder völkerrechtswidrig die Sperrung der deutschen Guthaben in den Vereinigten Staaten. Am 17. Juni verlangt Präsident Roosevelt unter verlogenen Vorwänden die Zurückziehung der deutschen Konsuln und Schließung der deutschen Konsulate. Er verlangt weiter die Schließung der deutschen Presseagentur „Transocean“, der deutschen Informationsbibliothek und der deutschen Reichsbahnzentrale. Am 6. bis 7. Juli erfolgt die Besetzung des in der deutschen Kampfzone gelegenen Island auf den Befehl Roosevelts durch amerikanische Streitkräfte.

Er hofft dadurch nun bestimmt:

1. Deutschland endlich zum Kriege zu zwingen,
2. ansonsten den deutschen U-Bootkrieg genau so wertlos zu machen wie etwa im Jahre 1915-1916.

Zur gleichen Zeit schickt er ein amerikanisches Hilfsversprechen an die Sowjetunion ab. Am 10. Juli gibt plötzlich der Marineminister Knox bekannt, daß die USA einen Schießbefehl gegen die Achsenkriegsschiffe besitze. Am 4. September operiert der USA-Zerstörer „Greer“ entsprechend dem ihm gegebenen Befehl mit englischen Flugzeugen gegen deutsche U-Boote im Atlantik.

Fünf Tage später stellt ein deutsches U-Boot USA-Zerstörer als Geleitfahrzeuge im englischen Convoy fest. Am 11. September endlich hält Roosevelt jene Rede, in der er selbst den Befehl zum Schießen gegen alle Achsenschiffe bestätigt und neu erteilt. Am 29. September greifen USA-Bewacher ein deutsches U-Boot östlich Grönland mit Wasserbomben an. Am 17. Oktober bekämpft der USA-Zerstörer „Kearny“ im Geleitschutz für England fahrend, wieder ein deutsches U-Boot mit Wasserbomben, und am 6. November endlich kapern USA-Streitkräfte völkerrechtswidrig den deutschen Dampfer „Odenwald“, schleppen ihn in einen amerikanischen Hafen und setzen die Besatzung gefangen.

Die beleidigenden Angriffe und Anflegelungen dieses sogenannten Präsidenten gegen mich persönlich will ich dabei als belanglos übergehen. Daß er mich einen Gangster nennt, ist um so gleichgültiger, als dieser Begriff wohl mangels an derartige Subjekte nicht aus Europa, sondern aus den Amerika stammt.

Aber abgesehen davon kann ich von Herrn Roosevelt überhaupt nicht beleidigt werden, denn ich halte ihn so wie einst Woodrow Wilson ebenfalls für geisteskrank.

Daß dieser Mann mit seinem jüdischen Anhang seit Jahren mit den gleichen Mitteln gegen Japan kämpft, ist uns bekannt. Ich brauche sie hier nicht zur Sprache bringen. Auch hier sind dieselben Methoden zur Anwendung gekommen. Erst hetzt dieser Mann zum Krieg, dann fälscht er die Ursachen, stellt willkürliche Behauptungen auf, hüllt sich dann in widerwärtiger Weise ein in eine Wolke christlicher Heuchelei und führt so langsam, aber sicher die Menschheit dem Krieg entgegen, nicht ohne dann als alter Freimaurer dabei Gott zum Zeugen anzurufen für die Ehrbarkeit seines Handelns.

Ich glaube, Sie alle werden es als eine Erlösung empfunden haben, daß nunmehr endlich ein Staat als erster gegen diese in der Geschichte einmalige und unverschämte Mißhandlung der Wahrheit und des Rechtes zu jenem Protest schritt, den dieser Mann ja gewünscht hat und über den er sich daher jetzt nicht wundern darf.

Daß die japanische Regierung es nach jahrelangem Verhandeln mit diesem Fälscher endlich seit hatte, sich noch weiter in so unwürdiger Weise verhöhnen zu lassen, erfüllt uns alle, das deutsche Volk und, ich glaube, auch die übrigen anständigen Menschen auf der ganzen Welt, mit einer tiefen Genugtuung.

Wir wissen, welche Kraft hinter Roosevelt steht. Es ist jener ewige Jude, der seine Zeit als gekommen erachtet, um das auch an uns zu vollstrecken, was wir in Sowjetrußland alle schaudernd sehen und erleben mußten. Wir haben das jüdische Paradies auf Erden nunmehr kennengelernt. Millionen deutscher Soldaten haben den persönlichen Einblick gewinnen können in ein Land, in dem dieser internationale Jude Mensch und Gut zerstörte und vernichtete. Der Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten mag das vielleicht selbst nicht begreifen. Dann spricht dies nur für seine geistige Beschränktheit.

Wir aber wissen, daß dies das Ziel seines ganzen Kampfes ist: Auch wenn wir nicht im Bündnis mit Japan stünden, wären wir uns darüber im klaren, daß es die Absicht der Juden und ihres Franklin Roosevelt ist, einen Staat nach dem anderen allein zu vernichten. Das heutige Deutsche Reich hat aber nun nichts mehr gemein mit dem Deutschland von einst.

Wir werden daher auch von unserer Seite nun das tun, was dieser Provokateur seit Jahren zu erreichen versuchte. Nicht nur, weil wir Verbündete von Japan sind, sondern weil Deutschland und Italien in ihrer derzeitigen Führung genügend Einsicht und Stärke besitzen, um zu begreifen, daß in dieser historischen Zeit das Sein oder Nichtsein der Nationen bestimmt wird, vielleicht für immer.

Was diese andere Welt mit uns vorhat, ist uns klar. Sie haben das demokratische Deutschland von einst zum Verhungern gebracht sie würden das sozialistische von jetzt ausrotten. Wenn Herr Roosevelt oder Herr Churchill erklären, daß sie dann später eine neue soziale Ordnung aufbauen wollen, dann ist das ungefähr so, als wenn ein Friseur mit kahlem Kopf ein untrügliches Haarwuchsmittel empfiehlt.

Die Herren, die in den sozial rückständigsten Staaten leben, hätten, statt für Kriege zu hetzen, sich um ihre Erwerbslosen kümmern sollen. Sie haben in ihren Ländern Not und Elend genug, um sich dort im Sinne einer Verteilung von Lebensmitteln zu beschäftigen. Was das deutsche Volk betrifft, so braucht es weder von Herrn Churchill noch von einem Herrn Roosevelt oder gar von einem Mister Eden Almosen, sondern es will nur sein Recht.

Und dieses Recht zum Leben wird es sich sicherstellen, auch wenn tausend Churchills oder Roosevelts sich dagegen verschwören wollten. Dieses Volk hier hat nun eine fast zweitausendjährige Geschichte hinter sich. Es war in dieser langen Zeit noch nie so einig und geschlossen wie heute und wie es, dank der nationalsozialistischen Bewegung, für alle Zukunft nun sein wird. Es war aber auch vielleicht noch nie so hellsehend und selten so ehrbewußt.

Ich habe daher heute dem amerikanischen Geschäftsträger die Pässe zustellen und ihm folgendes eröffnen lassen:

Im Verfolg der immer weiteren Ausdehnung einer auf unbegrenzte Weltherrschaftsdiktatur gerichteten Politik des Präsidenten Roosevelt sind die Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika im Verein mit England vor keinem Mittel zurückgewichen, um dein deutschen, dem italienischen und auch dem japanischen Volke die Voraussetzungen ihrer natürlichen Lebenserhaltung zu bestreiten. Die Regierungen Englands und der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika haben sich aus diesem Grunde nicht nur für die Gegenwart, sondern auch für alle Zukunft jeder berechtigten Revision zur Herbeiführung einer besseren Neuordnung der Welt entgegengesetzt.

Seit Kriegsbeginn hat sich der amerikanischen Präsident Roosevelt in steigendem Maße eine Reihe schwerster völkerrechtswidrige Verbrechen zuschulden kommen lassen. Gesetzlose Übergriffe auf Schiffe und sonstiges Eigentum deutscher und italienischer Staatsbürger verbanden sich mit der Bedrohung, ja der willkürlichen Beraubung der persönlichen Freiheit der Betroffenen durch Internierungen usw. Die sich auch sonst weiter verschärfenden Angriffe des Präsidenten der Vereinigten Staaten Roosevelt führte am Ende soweit, daß er der amerikanischen Marine den Befehl erteilte, entgegen allen Völkerrechtsbestrebungen, Schiffe deutscher und italienischer Nationalität überall sofort anzugreifen, zu beschießen und sie zu versenken.

Amerikanische Minister rühmten sich auch, auf diese verbrecherische Weise deutsche U-Boote veinirhtet zu haben. Deutsche und italienische Handelsschiffe wurden von amerikanischen Kreuzern überfallen. gekapert und ihre friedliche Besatzung in Gefängnisse abgeführt. Ohne jeden Versuch einer amtlichen Widerlegung von seiten der amerikanischen Regierung wurde aber darüber hinaus nunmehr in Amerika der Plan des Präsidenten Roosevelt veröffentlicht, spätestens im Jahre 1943 Deutschland und Italien mit militärischen Machtmitteln in Europa selbst angreifen zu wollen.

Dadurch ist das aufrichtige und von beispielloser Langmut zeugende Bestreben Deutschlands und Italiens, trotz der seit Jahren erfolgten unerträglichen Provokationen durch den Präsidenten Roosevelt eine Erweiterung des Krieges zu verhüten und die Beziehungen zu den Vereinigten Staaten aufrechtzuerhalten, zum Scheitern gebracht worden.

Deutschland und Italien haben demgegenüber sich nunmehr endlich gezwungen gesehen, getreu den Bestimmungen des Dreimächtepaktes vom 27. September 1940 Seite an Seite mit Japan den Kampf zur Verteidigung und damit Erhaltung der Freiheit und Unabhängigkeit ihrer Völker und Reiche gegen die Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika und England gemeinsam zu führen.

Die drei Mächte haben deshalb das folgende Abkommen abgeschlossen und am heutigen Tage in Berlin unterzeichnet:

In dem unerschütterlichen Entschluß, die Waffen nicht niederzulegen, bis der gemeinsame Krieg gegen die Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika und England zum erfolgreichen Ende geführt worden ist, haben sich die deutsche Regierung, die italienische Regierung und die japanische Regierung über folgende Bestimmungen geeinigt:

ARTIKEL 1
Deutschland, Italien und Japan werden den ihnen von den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika und England aufgezwungenen Krieg mit allen ihnen zu Gebote stehenden Machtmitteln gemeinsam bis zum siegreichen Ende führen.

ARTIKEL 2
Deutschland, Italien und Japan verpflichten sich, ohne volles gegenseitiges Einverständnis weder mit den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika noch mit England Waffenstillstand oder Frieden zu schließen.

ARTIKEL 3
Deutschland, Italien und Japan werden auch nach siegreicher Beendigung des Krieges zum Zwecke der Herbeiführung einer gerechten Neuordnung im Sinne des von ihnen am 27. September 1940 abgeschlossenen Dreimächtepaktes auf das engste zusammenarbeiten.

ARTIKEL 4
Dieses Abkommen tritt sofort mit seiner Unterzeichnung in Kraft und bleibt ebenso lange wie der Dreimächtepakt vom 27. September 1940 in Geltung. Die hohen vertragschließenden Teile werden sich rechtzeitig vor Ablauf dieser Geltungsdauer über die weitere Gestaltung ihrer im Artikel 3 dieses Abkommens vorgesehenen Zusammenarbeit verständigen.

Abgeordnete! Männer des Deutschen Reichstags!

Wir sind uns schon seit der Ablehnung meines letzten Friedensvorschlages vom Juli 1940 im klaren, daß dieser Kampf bis zur letzten Konsequenz durchgekämpft werden muß. Daß sich die angelsächsisch-jüdisch-kapitalistische Welt mit dem Bolschewismus dabei in einer Front befindet, ist für uns Nationalsozialisten keine Überraschung. Wir haben sie im Innern stets in der gleichen Gemeinschaft gefunden, allein wir haben diesen Kampf im Innern erfolgreich bestanden und unsere Gegner endlich nach sechzehnjährigem Ringen um die Macht vernichtet.

Als ich mich vor 23 Jahren entschloß, in das politische Leben einzutreten, um die Nation aus ihrem Verfall wieder emporzuführen, war ich ein namenloser unbekannter Soldat. Viele unter Ihnen wissen, wie schwer die ersten Jahre dieses Kampfes gewesen sind. Der Weg der kleinen Bewegung von sieben Mann bis zur Übernahme der verantwortlichen Regierung am 30. Januar 1933 war ein so wundersamer, daß nur die Vorsehung selbst durch ihren Segen dies ermöglicht haben kann.

Heute stehe ich an der Spitze des stärksten Heeres der Welt, der gewaltigsten Luftwaffe und einer stolzen Marine. Hinter mir und um mich als eine verschworene Gemeinschaft weiß ich die Partei, mit der ich groß geworden bin und die durch mich groß geworden ist.

Die Gegner, die ich vor mir sehe, sind die bekannten Feinde seit über 20 Jahren. Allein der Weg, der vor mir liegt, ist nicht zu vergleichen mit dem Weg, auf den ich zurückblicken kann. Das deutsche Volk steht in der Erkenntnis der entscheidenden Stunde seines Daseins. Millionen von Soldaten erfüllen unter den schwersten Bedingungen gehorsam und treu ihre Pflicht.

Millionen deutscher Bauern und Arbeiter, deutscher Frauen und Mädchen stehen in den Fabriken und Kontoren, auf den Feldern und Äckern und schaffen im Schweiße ihres Angesichts der Heimat das Brot und der Front die Waffen. Mit uns im Bunde sind starke Völker, die von der gleichen Not gequält, die gleichen Feinde vor sich finden.

Der amerikanische Präsident und seine plutokratische Clique haben uns als die Völker der Habenichtse getauft. Das ist richtig!

Die Habenichtse aber wollen leben, und sie werden auf alle Fälle erreichen, daß das Wenige, das sie zum Leben haben, ihnen nicht auch noch von den Besitzenden geraubt wird. Sie kennen, meine Parteigenossen, meine unerbittliche Entschlossenheit, einen einmal begonnenen Kampf bis zum erfolgreichen Ende zu führen. Sie kennen meinen Willen, in so einem Kampf vor nichts zurückzuscheuen, alle Widerstände zu brechen, die gebrochen werden müssen.

Ich habe Ihnen in meiner ersten Rede am 1. September 1939 versichert, daß in diesem Krieg weder Waffengewalt noch Zeit Deutschland niederzwingen werden. Ich will meinen Gegnern auch versichern, daß uns nicht nur die Waffengewalt oder die Zeit nicht bezwingen werden, sondern daß uns auch kein innerer Zweifel wankend machen kann in der Erfüllung unserer Pflicht.

Wenn wir an die Opfer unserer Soldaten denken, an ihren Einsatz, dann ist jedes Opfer der Heimat gänzlich belanglos und unbedeutend. Wenn wir aber die Zahl all jener uns überlegen, die in den Generationen schon vor uns für des deutschen Volkes Bestehen und Größe gefallen sind, dann wird uns erst recht die Größe der Pflicht bewußt, die auf uns selbst lastet.

Wer aber dieser Pflicht sich zu entziehen beabsichtigt, der hat keinen Anspruch darauf, in unserer Mitte als Volksgenosse bewertet zu werden.

So wie wir mitleidlos hart gewesen sind im Kampf um die Macht, werden wir genau so mitleidlos und hart sein im Kampf um die Erhaltung unseres Volkes, in einer Zeit in der tausende unserer besten Männer, Väter und Söhne unseres Volkes fallen, soll keiner mit dem Leben rechnen, der in der Heimat die Opfer der Front entwerten will.

Ganz gleich, unter welchen Tarnungen jemals der Versuch gemacht werden würde, diese deutsche Front zu stören, den Widerstandswillen unseres Volkes zu untergraben, die Autorität des Regimes zu schwächen, die Leistungen der Heimat zu sabotieren: Der Schuldige wird fallen! Nur mit einem Unterschied, daß der Soldat an der Front dieses Opfer in höchster Ehre bringt, während der andere, der dieses Ehrenopfer entwertet, in Schande stirbt.

Unsere Gegner sollen sich nicht täuschen. In den 2000 Jahren der uns bekannten deutschen Geschichte ist unser Volk niemals geschlossener und einiger gewesen als heute. Der Herr der Welten hat so Großes in den letzten Jahren an uns getan, daß wir in Dankbarkeit uns vor einer Vorsehung verneigen, die uns gestattet hat, Angehörige eines so großen Volkes sein zu dürfen. Wir danken ihm, daß wir angesichts der früheren und kommenden Generationen des deutschen Volkes auch uns in Ehre eintragen können in das unvergängliche Buch der deutschen Geschichte!

---

Hitler Telegrams
December 11, 1941

To King Victor Emmanuel of Italy:

Aus Anlaß der Unterzeichnung des Vertrages, durch den die Achsenmächte sich mit dem Kaiserreich Japan zu gemeinsamer Kriegführung und Zusammenarbeit zur Sicherstellung einer gerechten Neuordnung verbunden haben, sende ich Euerer Majestät zugleich mir meinen aufrichtigsten Grüßen die herzlichsten Wünsche für den weiteren Kampf der nunmehr eng verbundenen Waffen der drei Mächte.

To Italian Premier Mussolini:

Am heutigen Tage des Abschlusses des Abkommens, durch das die Achsenmächte und Japan sich zu gemeinsamer Waffenbrüderschaft entschließen, sende ich Ihnen, Duce, meine herzlichsten Grüße. Ich weiß mich mit Ihnen einig in der Gewißheit, daß dieser Akt sich als sichere Bürgschaft des gemeinsamen Siegers der drei Mächte erweisen wird.

To Emperor Hirohito of Japan:

An dem heutigen bedeutsamen Tage, an dem sich die Achsenmächte mit dem Kaiserreich Japan zu gemeinsamer Kriegführung bis zum gemeinsamen Siege verbunden haben, sende ich Euerer Majestät mit den aufrichtigsten Grüßen meine Glückwünsche zu den bisherigen großen Erfolgen der japanischen Wehrmacht sowie meine und des deutschen Volkes wärmste Wünsche für den Sieg der japanischen Waffen.

To Japanese Prime Minister Tojo:

Aus Anlaß des heutigen Abschlusses des Abkommens zwischen den Achsenmächten und dem Kaiserreich Japan, durch das sich die drei Mächte zum gemeinsamen Kampfe, gemeinsamen Siege und gemeinsamen Aufbau in der Zukunft verbunden haben, sende ich Euerer Exzellenz meine herzlichsten Glückwünsche zu dem schon erzielten, so bedeutsamen Erfolge der japanischen Waffen und verbinde damit die wärmsten Wünsche für den weiteren Fortgang des nunmehr gemeinsam geführten Kampfes.

[NormanStewart]

German Declaration of War on the United States
December 11, 1941, 9:30 a.m. EST

The German charge d’affaires, Dr. Hans Thomsen, and the First Secretary of the German Embassy, Mr. von Strempel, called at the State Department at 8 a.m. EST. The secretary, otherwise engaged, directed that they be received by the chief of the European Division of the State Department, Mr. Ray Atherton. Mr. Atherton received the German representatives at 9:30 a.m.

The German representatives handed to Mr. Atherton a copy of a note that is being delivered this morning to the American charge d’affaires in Berlin. Dr. Thomsen said that Germany considers herself in a state of war with the United States. He asked that the appropriate measures be taken for the departure of himself, the members of the German Embassy, and his staff in this country. He reminded Mr. Atherton that the German government had previously expressed its willingness to grant the same treatment to American press correspondents in Germany as that accorded the American official staff on a reciprocal basis and added that he assumed that the departure of other American citizens from Germany would be permitted on the same basis of German citizens desiring to leave this country. He referred to the exchange of civilians that had been arranged at the time Great Britain and Germany broke off diplomatic relations.

The German charge d’affaires then stated that the Swiss government would take over German interests in this country and that Dr. Bruggmann had already received appropriate instructions from his government.

He then handed Mr. Atherton a note from the German government. Mr. Atherton stated that in accepting this note from the German charge d’affaires, he was merely formalizing the realization that the government and people of this country had faced since the outbreak of the war in 1939 of the threat and purposes of the German government and the Nazi regime toward this hemisphere and our free American civilization.

Mr. Atherton then said that this government would arrange for the delivery of Dr. Thomsen’s passports and that he assumed that we would very shortly be in communication with the Swiss minister. He added that Dr. Thomsen must realize, however, that the physical difficulties of the situation would demand a certain amount of time in working out this reciprocal arrangement for the departure of the missions of the two countries. The German representatives then took their leave.

The text of the note which the German representatives handed to Mr. Ray Atherton, chief of the European Division of the State Department, at 9:30 a.m., the original of which had been delivered this morning to the American charge d’affaires in Berlin, follows:

Herr Geschäftsträger! Nachdem die Regierung der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika von Ausbruch des durch die englische Kriegserklärung an Deutschland vom 3. September 1939 heraufbeschworenen europäischen Krieges an alle Regeln der Neutralität in immer steigendem Maße zugunsten der Gegner Deutschlands auf das Flagranteste verletzt, sich fortgesetzt der schwersten Provokationen gegenüber Deutschland schuldig gemacht hat, ist sie schließlich zu offenen militärischen Angriffshandlungen übergegangen.

Am 11. September 1941 hat der Herr Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika öffentlich erklärt, daß er der amerikanischen Flotte und Luftwaffe den Befehl gegeben habe, auf jedes deutsche Kriegsfahrzeug ohne weiteres zu schießen. In seiner Rede vom 27. Oktober 1941 hat er nochmals ausdrücklich bestätigt, daß dieser Befehl in Kraft sei. Gemäß diesem Befehl haben seit Anfang September 1941 amerikanische Kriegsfahrzeuge deutsche Seestreitkräfte systematisch angegriffen. So haben amerikanische Zerstörer, zum Beispiel die „Greer“, die „Kearny“ und die „Reuben James“, planmäßig das Feuer auf deutsche U-Boote eröffnet. Der Staatssekretär der amerikanischen Marine, Herr Knox, hat selber bestätigt, daß amerikanische Zerstörer deutsche U-Boote angegriffen haben. Ferner haben die Seestreitkräfte der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika auf Befehl ihrer Regierung deutsche Handelsschiffe auf dem offenen Meere völkerrechtswidrig als feindliche Schiffe behandelt und gekapert. Die Reichsregierung stellt daher fest:

Obwohl sich Deutschland seinerseits gegenüber den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika während des ganzen gegenwärtigen Krieges streng an die Regeln des Völkerrechts gehalten hat, ist die Regierung der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika von anfänglichen Neutralitätsbrüchen endlich zu offenen Kriegshandlungen gegen Deutschland übergegangen. Sie hat damit praktisch den Kriegszustand geschaffen.

Die Reichsregierung hebt deshalb die diplomatischen Beziehungen zu den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika auf und erklärt, daß sich unter diesen durch den Präsidenten Roosevelt veranlaßten Umständen auch Deutschland von heute ab im Kriegszustand mit den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika befindlich betrachtet.

MR. CHARGE D’AFFAIRES:

The Government of the United States having violated in the most flagrant manner and in ever-increasing measure all rules of neutrality in favor of the adversaries of Germany and having continually been guilty of the most severe provocations toward Germany ever since the outbreak of the European war, provoked by the British declaration of war against Germany on September 3, 1939, has finally resorted to open military acts of aggression.

On September 11, 1941, the President of the United States publicly declared that he had ordered the American Navy and Air Force to shoot on sight at any German war vessel. In his speech of October 27, 1941, he once more expressly affirmed that this order was in force. Acting under this order, vessels of the American Navy, since early September 1941, have systematically attacked German naval forces. Thus, American destroyers, as for instance the Greer, the Kearny and the Reuben James, have opened fire on German submarines according to plan. The Secretary of the American Navy, Mr. Knox, himself confirmed that American destroyers attacked German submarines.

Furthermore, the naval forces of the United States, under order of their Government and contrary to international law have treated and seized German merchant vessels on the high seas as enemy ships.

The German Government therefore establishes the following facts:

Although Germany on her part has strictly adhered to the rules of international law in her relations with the United States during every period of the present war, the Government of the United States from initial violations of neutrality has finally proceeded to open acts of war against Germany. The Government of the United States has thereby virtually created a state of war.

The German Government, consequently, discontinues diplomatic relations with the United States of America and declares that, under these circumstances brought about by President Roosevelt, Germany too, as from today, considers herself as being in a state of war with the United States of America.

Accept, Mr. Charge d’Affaires, the expression of my high consideration.

RIBBENTROP

[NormanStewart]

Italian Declaration of War on the United States
December 11, 1941, 2:30 p.m. CET

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Count Ciano received the charge d’affaires of the United States of America at the Palazzo Chigi today at 2:30 p.m. CET and made the following statement:

Sua Maestà il Re Imperatore dichiara che l’Italia si considera da oggi in stato di guerra con gli Stati Uniti d’America.

His Majesty the King and Emperor declares that from now on Italy regards itself as at war with the United States of America.

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Statement by Italian Premier Mussolini
December 11, 1941, 2:45 p.m. CET

Camerali!

È questo un’altra giornata di decisioni solenni nella storia d’Italia e di memorabili eventi destinati ad imprimere un nuovo corso nella storia dei continenti.

Le Potenze del Patto di acciaio, l’Italia fascista e Germania nazionalsocialista, sempre più strettamente unite, scendono oggi a lato dell’eroico Giappone contro gli Stati Uniti d’America.

Il Tripartito diventa un’alleanza militare che schiera attorno alle sue bandiere duecentocinquanta milioni di uomini risoluti a tutto pur di vincere.

Né l’Asse né il Giappone volevano l’estensione del conflitto.

Un uomo, un uomo solo, un autentico e democratico despota, attraverso una serie infinita di provocazioni, ingannando con una frode suprema le stesse popolazioni del suo Paese, ha voluto la guerra e l’ha preparata giorno per giorno con diabolica pertinacia.

I formidabili colpi che sulle immense distese del Pacifico sono già stati inferti alle forze americane mostrano di quale tempra siano i soldati del Sol Levante. Io dico, e voi lo sentite, che è un privilegio combatte re con loro.

Oggi il Tripartito, nella pienezza dei suoi mezzi morali e materiali, è uno strumento poderoso per la guerra e il garante sicuro della vittoria. Sara domani l’artefice e l’organizzatore della giusta pace tra i popoli.

Italiani e Italiane!

Ancora una volta in piedi. State degni di questa grande ora.

Vinceremo!

[NormanStewart]

War Pact of the Axis Powers
December 11, 1941

In dem unerschütterlichen Entschluß, die Waffen nicht niederzulegen, bis der gemeinsame Krieg gegen die Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika und England zum erfolgreichen Ende geführt worden ist, haben sich die deutsche Regierung, die italienische Regierung und die japanische Regierung über folgende Bestimmungen geeinigt:

ARTIKEL 1
Deutschland, Italien und Japan werden den ihnen von den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika und England aufgezwungenen Krieg mit allen ihnen zu Gebote stehenden Machtmitteln gemeinsam bis zum siegreichen Ende führen.

ARTIKEL 2
Deutschland, Italien und Japan verpflichten sich, ohne volles gegenseitiges Einverständnis weder mit den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika noch mit England Waffenstillstand oder Frieden zu schließen.

ARTIKEL 3
Deutschland, Italien und Japan werden auch nach siegreicher Beendigung des Krieges zum Zwecke der Herbeiführung einer gerechten Neuordnung im Sinne des von ihnen am 27. September 1940 abgeschlossenen Dreimächtepaktes auf das engste zusammenarbeiten.

ARTIKEL 4
Dieses Abkommen tritt sofort mit seiner Unterzeichnung in Kraft und bleibt ebenso lange wie der Dreimächtepakt vom 27. September 1940 in Geltung. Die hohen vertragschließenden Teile werden sich rechtzeitig vor Ablauf dieser Geltungsdauer über die weitere Gestaltung ihrer im Artikel 3 dieses Abkommens vorgesehenen Zusammenarbeit verständigen.

Zu Urkund dessen haben die Unterzeichneten, von ihren Regierungen gehörig bevollmächtigt, diesen Pakt unterzeichnet und mit ihren Siegeln versehen.

Ausgefertigt in dreifacher Urschrift in italienischer, deutscher und japanischer Sprache in Berlin am 11. Dezember 1941, im 19. Jahr der faschistischen Ära, entsprechend dem 11. Tage des zwölf Monats des 16. Jahres Showa.

DINO ALFIERI
JOACHIM v. RIBBENTROP
HIROSHI OSHIMA

Nella irremovibile decisione di non deporre le armi finché non sia stata portata a vittoriosa fine la guerra comune contro gli Stati Uniti d’America e l’Inghilterra, il Governo italiano, il Governo germanico e il Governo giapponese si sono accordati sulle seguenti clausole:

ARTICOLO 1
L’Italia, la Germania e il Giappone condurranno in comune la guerra imposta loro dagli Stati Uniti d’America e dall’Inghilterra con tutti i mezzi a loro disposizione, fino alla fine vittoriosa.

ARTICOLO 2
L’Italia, la Germania e il Giappone si impegnano a non concludere né un armistizio né la pace sia con gli Stati Uniti d’America che con l’Inghilterra senza piena reciproca intesa.

ARTICOLO 3
L’Italia, la Germania e il Giappone anche dopo la fine vittoriosa della guerra collaboreranno strettissimamente assieme, nel senso del Patto tripartito da loro stipulato il 27 settembre 1940, allo scopo di raggiungere un giusto ordine nuovo.

ARTICOLO 4
Il presente Accordo entra in vigore immediatamente all’atto della sua firma e resterà in vigore per tutta la durata del Patto tripartito concluso il 27 settembre 1940. Le Alte Parti contraenti si metteranno d’accordo al momento opportuno prima della scadenza di detto termine, per stabilire le ulteriori modalità della loro collaborazione prevista nell’articolo 3 del presente accordo.

In fede di che i sottoscritti, debitamente autorizzati dai loro Governi, hanno firmato il presente Accordo e vi hanno apposto i loro sigilli.

Fatto in triplice esemplare in lingua italiana, tedesca e giapponese a Berlino, l’11 dicembre 1941 XIX dell’Era Fascista, corrispondente all’11° giorno del 12° mese del 16° anno dell’Era Showa.

DINO ALFIERI
JOACHIM v. RIBBENTROP
HIROSHI OSHIMA

ドイツ政府、イタリア政府および日夲政府は、アメリカ合衆國およびイギリスに對する共同戰爭が成功裏に終結するまで武噐を捨てないという搖るぎない决意の下、以下の條項に合意した：

第一條
ドイツ、イタリアおよび日夲は、今後、合衆國およびイギリスによって課せられた戰爭を、その自由裁量に屬するあらゆる手段によって、敵對行爲の終了まで、共同して遂行する。

第二條
イタリア、ドイツおよび日夲は、各自のために、夲協定のいずれの當亊者も、完全かつ相互の合意なくしては、アメリカ合衆國との閒であれ、イギリスとの閒であれ、休戰または講和を締結しないことを約束する。

第三條
イタリア、ドイツおよび日夲は、この戰爭の勝利的終結後においても、1940年9月27日に締結された日獨伊三國同盟の精神に基づき、丗界における公正な新秩序を實現し確立するために緊密に協力する。

第四條
夲協定は、署名により直ちに發效し、昭和十五年九月二十七日に締結された日獨伊三國同盟の存續朞閒中效力を有する。この協定の上位締約國は、適當な時朞に、この協定の上記第三條を實施する手段について、相互に合意する。

この證として、下名は、それぞれの政府から正當に權限を與えられ、この協定に署名し、こ れに印を押す。

ファシスト時代第十九年、千九百四十一年十二月十一日、昭和十六年十二月十一日に相當する日、ベルリンにて、イタリア語、ドイツ語、日夲語の三ヶ國語により、三部作成。

DINO ALFIERI
JOACHIM v. RIBBENTROP
大島 洋

The German Government, the Italian Government and the Japanese Government, in their unshakable determination not to lay down their arms until the joint war against the United States of America and England has been brought to a successful conclusion, have agreed on the following provisions:

ARTICLE I
Italy, Germany and Japan will henceforth conduct in common and jointly a war which has been imposed on them by the United States of America and England, by all means at their disposal and until the end of hostilities.

ARTICLE II
Italy, Germany and Japan undertake each for himself that none of the parties to the present accord will conclude either armistice or peace, be it with the United States or with England without complete and reciprocal agreement.

ARTICLE III
Italy, Germany and Japan, even after the victorious conclusion of this war, will collaborate closely in the spirit of the Tripartite Pact, concluded 27 September, 1940, in order to realize and establish an equitable new order in the world.

ARTICLE IV
The present accord is effective immediately on its signature and remains in force for the duration of the Tripartite Pact, signed 27 September, 1940. The high contracting parties of this accord will at an opportune moment agree among themselves the means of implementing Article III above of this accord.

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorized by their Governments, have signed this Agreement and affixed their seals thereto.

Done in triplicate in the Italian, German and Japanese languages at Berlin, the 11th day of December, 1941, in the 19th year of the Fascist Era, corresponding to the 11th day of the 12th month of the 16th year of the Showa.

DINO ALFIERI
JOACHIM v. RIBBENTROP
HIROSHI OSHIMA

[NormanStewart]

Message by the President to Congress
December 11, 1941

On the morning of December 11, the government of Germany, pursuing its course of world conquest, declared war against the United States.

The long-known and the long-expected has thus taken place. The forces endeavoring to enslave the entire world now are moving toward this hemisphere.

Never before has there been a greater challenge to life, liberty, and civilization.

Delay invites greater danger. Rapid and united effort by all of the peoples of the world who are determined to remain free will ensure a world victory of the forces of justice and of righteousness over the forces of savagery and of barbarism.

Italy also has declared war against the United States.

I therefore request the Congress to recognize a state of war between the United States and Germany, and between the United States and Italy.

[NormanStewart]

JOINT RESOLUTION

Declaring that a state of war exists between the Government of Germany and the Government and the people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute the same.

Whereas the Government of Germany has formally declared war against the Government and the people of the United States of America:

Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Government of Germany which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Government of Germany; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.

SAM RAYBURN
Speaker of the House of Representatives

HENRY A. WALLACE
Vice President of the United States and the President of the Senate

Approved —
December 11, 1941, 3:05 p.m. EST
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT

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JOINT RESOLUTION

Declaring that a state of war exists between the Government of Italy and the Government and the people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute the same.

Whereas the Government of Italy has formally declared war against the Government and the people of the United States of America:

Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Government of Italy which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Government of Italy; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.

SAM RAYBURN
Speaker of the House of Representatives

HENRY A. WALLACE
Vice President of the United States and the President of the Senate

Approved —
December 11, 1941, 3:07 p.m. EST
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT

[NormanStewart]

U.S. State Department (December 11, 1941)

The Chargé in the Soviet Union to the Secretary of State

Kuybyshev (via Moscow), December 11, 1941 — 12 a.m.
[Received December 12 — 6:05 a.m.]

2040

With reference to the Department’s telegram No. 1261, December 6, 1 p.m., the Foreign Office has promised to investigate the question of Devenis’ alleged whereabouts and report its findings to the Embassy as soon as possible.

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The Australian Minister to the Secretary of State

Washington, December 11, 1941
No. 269/41

SIR: I have the honour to convey to you the following message which I have received from the Australian Minister for External Affairs:

I desire to express the Commonwealth Government’s profound appreciation of the initiative[,] courage and patience displayed by the President of the United States and the Secretary of State in their endeavour to prevent war in the Pacific and in their objective of outlawing force as the instrument of national policy.

For the time being the attempt to maintain Pacific peace on the basis of law and justice has been checked by the sudden and treacherous attack of the Japanese forces while diplomatic negotiations were actually proceeding.

The Commonwealth Government is honoured to be associated with the United States in resisting the aggressors until they are finally overthrown and until the principles for which the President has so frequently declared are established not only in the Pacific but everywhere in the world.

I have [etc.]

R. G. CASEY

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The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Brazil

Washington, December 11, 1941 — 3 p.m.
1340

Please deliver following message from Professor Fenwick to Dr. Mello Franco:

Recommend Committee consider possible ways of extending functions to meet present emergency.

HULL

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The Consul General at Algiers to the Secretary of State

Algiers, December 11, 1941 — 3 p.m.
[Received December 12 — 3 a.m.]

629

From Murphy. Your 474, December 2, 9 p.m., to Casablanca.

Vice Admiral Fenard, who returned to Algiers last night, tells me that during his visit to Vichy Darlan convinced him that there is no reason to fear a German intrusion in this area. Darlan told him that no major concessions in French Africa had been made to the Germans or are contemplated. Darlan and other Vichy officials, he said, now manifest the greatest interest in the continuation of the American economic plan for North Africa. They hope that American vessels will be used in the New York-Casablanca run. Fenard declared that many French officials now only begin to realize the importance of French Africa and the American plan which some were inclined to deprecate. He mentioned the increasing alarm felt by many regarding the local economic situation which is acutely unsatisfactory. He said that there is real apprehension over the problem of keeping millions of discontented Arabs in line. Fenard said that Darlan’s offer to sell us the Normandie is a gesture which proves the French desire to be friendly.

He intimated, as did another Admiral (who asked that his name be not mentioned) just arrived from Vichy, that Darlan is convinced of American naval supremacy and is positive that the United States will defeat Japan. Under present circumstances Darlan cannot publish these sentiments but my contacts seem certain that he will be guided thereby in whatever influence he has on French policy. Fenard and other French officials here have expressed to us their sympathy with the United States in its war with Japan and their wishes for our victory. I believe that sentiment is shared by the bulk of the North African population.

Fenard painted a gloomy picture of North African economy, saying if American supplies are not received industry will drop to 10% of normal, and urged that we take prompt action to resume shipments to this area. He handed me a memorandum regarding the official contracts made for the purchase of goods in the United States, credits opened and licenses delivered for about 200,000 tons of merchandise with a value of approximately $5,500,000. The memorandum inquires whether the orders given, the licenses and navicerts granted stand and whether the ships now in New York may be loaded. The reply will, of course, affect the movements of the ships now in Casablanca which would carry cargoes for New York. Goods sold f.o.b. once on board of course become the risk of consignee. The memorandum urgently requests the Department’s early comment.

Admiral Fenard who was obviously acting under Darlan’s instructions concluded with an urgent appeal that we make our influence felt in this area where he said we are most welcome by sending American goods and American ships “before it is too late.”

Repeated to Vichy. Copies to North African offices by courier. [Murphy.]

COLE

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The Ambassador in France to the Secretary of State

Vichy, December 11, 1941 — 7 p.m.
[Received 11 p.m.]

1523

Department’s 898, December 6, 4 p.m., 903, December 8 [9], 6 p.m. and 908, December 10, 4 p.m.

At 6 p.m. conferred with the Marshal for a half hour with Admiral Darlan present and discussed the questions contained in cables referred to above, explaining to the Marshal that America’s formal involvement in war with Axis Powers may change the entire picture from the point of view of the United States.

The Marshal indicated a desire that we continue our economic relief in Africa and directed Admiral Darlan to prepare a memorandum reply to the specific questions contained in Department’s 898, December 6, 4 p.m., his first reaction apparently being that satisfaction could be given to our requests.

In regard to naval ships in French colonial ports in the Western Hemisphere, Admiral Darlan said they have no intention of leaving port and that they are disarmed. In reply to a categorical inquiry, he said he will issue instructions to Admiral and will inform me by memorandum in regard thereto.

In reply to a question as to any possible change in the attitude of the French Government toward this Embassy because of the declaration of war against us by Germany and Italy, the Marshal stated that he is most desirous of maintaining the existing understanding friendly relations between our two governments and that no demand has come from the Axis for France to change its attitude. He said, however:

If Germany should make such a demand, they can starve our civilian population and we are helpless.

He stated France intends to “remain neutral” and if Germany brings pressure to bear toward forcing a change, he will endeavor to find means to maintain our recent relations.

It is my personal opinion that no effective effort will be made by the Marshal’s Government in our behalf if Germany should ask that diplomatic relations between France and America be made difficult or interrupted. Such a request by Germany is expected by our friends in the Vichy Government and I believe it is also expected by the Marshal himself.

I told the Marshal that our formal involvement in the war caused by the German-Italian declarations of today changes the situation and makes any French assistance hereafter given to the Axis Powers a direct injury to the United States.

Both the Marshal and Darlan were particularly cordial during this interview and both expressed regret that America has become involved in the “World War.”

Repeated to Algiers.

LEAHY

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The Latvian Minister to the Secretary of State

Washington, December 11, 1941

SIR: I have been deeply affected by the announcement which has been made today that war has been declared upon the United States by Germany, the power which at the present time is illegally and by force occupying my own country. It seems hardly necessary for me to state that every patriotic Latvian must consider that the welfare of his country depends upon the defeat of Nazi Germany and desires to do everything possible to aid in bringing this about.

There are at the present time in the waters of this hemisphere eight vessels flying the Latvian flag. Practically all of these vessels are operating at the present time. They are not, however, functioning with full efficiency since conflicts are continually breaking out among the operators, the masters, and members of crew. These conflicts are extremely difficult to mediate or settle in view of the absence of the owners or lack of clarity of ownership, and because of their inability to call at, or to receive directions from, Latvian ports.

It is my considered opinion that these vessels would be much more useful if they should be taken over by the Government of the United States. I also feel that the interest of the owners would be more carefully safeguarded as a result of their requisitioning by the American Government. In case the American Government should consider that it would be desirable to requisition these vessels, I wish to assure it that I am willing to lend cooperation in this matter in every way that is legal and proper.

Accept [etc.]

Dr. ALFRED BILMANIS

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The Minister of Hungary to the Secretary of State

Budapest, December 11, 1941 — 9 p.m.
[Received December 11 — 4:41 p.m.]

703

I saw Prime Minister 8 o’clock this evening. He said because of Central European solidarity which he compared with solidarity of all American Republics, Hungary was obliged to sever relations with United States but not with intention of declaring war.

He presumed Rumania would follow suit and that all American officials from Hungary, Germany and Rumania would be sent home together.

He said he would have to consult Berlin about our method of departure and route.

PELL

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White House Statement of Thanks to Republican and Democratic National Chairmen
December 11, 1941

Let me thank you both, personally and on behalf of our country, for the patriotic action you have in contemplation. The national organizations of the two great parties are capable of inestimable service in our present emergency. The nationwide quality of their personnel, the circumstance that their agents are men and women of eminence and respect in their respective communities will, I am sure, demonstrate that in time of war there can be no partisan domestic politics. There can be only a determined intent of a united people to carry on the struggle for human liberty to a victorious conclusion.

So, I am sure we appreciate – and the people will appreciate – that the political truce is for the period of the emergency and that the principles of our respective parties will continue to dominate our courses. When the war is over we will still be adhering to our historic method of settling our domestic problems which has made our country the great nation it is, and has shown the world that democratic freedom is a perfectly workable system of government.

My own thought, with which I hope you will agree, is that the two national party organizations can function to the best advantage in the field of civilian defense, but you will, of course, work out your own procedure and processes in carrying out your patriotic purpose.

[NormanStewart]

Völkischer Beobachter (December 11, 1941)

Auch Churchill erhielt Japans erste Antwort:
Englands Fernost-Flotte entscheidend getroffen

Die zwei schnellsten Schlachtschiffe ‚Prince of Wales‘ und ‚Repulse‘ versenkt; niederschmetternder Eindruck in London
Eigener Bericht des „Völkischen Beobachters“

vb. Wien, 10. Dezember - Ein furchtbarer Schlag hat Englands Flotte getroffen: ihr neuestes Schlachtschiff „Prince of Wales“ und der Schlachtkreuzer „Repulse“ sind an der Ostküste Malayas von japanischen Marineflugzeugen binnen 21 Minuten auf den Grund des Meeres geschickt worden. Das britische Fernostgeschwader, das erst vor kurzem durch diese kampfkräftigen Einheiten verstärkt worden war, verfügt über kein Schlachtschiff mehr. Die Japaner berichteten über diese einzigartige und bewundernswerte Waffentat, die selbst noch die Vernichtung der USA-Schlachtschiffe „West Virginia“ und „Oklahoma“ vor Honolulu übertraf, durch folgende Meldung:

Das Kaiserliche Hauptquartier gibt bekannt, daß die japanische Marineluftwaffe die Schlachtschiffe „Prince of Wales“ und „Repulse“ in der Nähe der Ostküste der Malaien-Halbinsel versenkt hat. Wie die Agentur Domei dazu weiter berichtet, wurde die britische Fernostflotte am Mittwoch um 11,30 Uhr japanischer Zeit in der Nähe der Ostküste der Malaienhalbinsel gesichtet. Japanische Flugzeuge traten sofort in Aktion. Die „Repulse“ wurde um 14,29 Uhr durch Bombenvolltreffer augenblicklich versenkt. Das Schlachtschiff „Prince of Wales“ erhielt nach einem Volltreffer Schlagseite auf Steuerbord und versuchte zu entkommen. Um 14,50 Uhr erhielt dieses Schlachtschiff jedoch weitere Treffer und sank.

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Fünf USA-Offiziere vor ein Kriegsgericht:
Die Katastrophe von Hawai

dnb. Neuyork, 10. Dezember - Die Erregung über den japanischen Schlag auf Pearl Harbour hat nach Mitteilung einer USA-Nachrichtenagentur jetzt den Abgeordneten von Michigan veranlaßt, den Kongreß aufzufordern, fünf hohe Offiziere der USA-Armee und -Marine vor ein Kriegsgericht zu stellen. Unter ihnen befinde sich auch der Flottenchef der USA-Flotte im Stillen Ozean, Kimmel, der, wie die Agentur sagt, für die Katastrophe in Pearl Harbour verantwortlich sei.

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Japans Operationen auf den Philippinen:
Die ersten größeren Kämpfe mit USA-Truppen

dnb. Tokio, 10. Dezember - Wie der japanische Militärsprecher in Schanghai zu der Landung japanischer Truppen auf den Philippinen ergänzend bekanntgab, ist es den Japanern gelungen, trotz feindlicher Gegenwehr auf der Hauptinsel Luzon Fuß zu fassen, und zwar bei Vigan an der Nordwestküste und bei Aparri an der Nordküste der Insel. Vermutlich sind noch weitere Landungen erfolgt, jedoch liegen hierüber noch keine Nachrichten vor.

Die Landungen wurden im Laufe des Dienstag durch Bodentruppen mit Unterstützung von Marine- und Luftstreitkräften durchgeführt. Wie aus Manila verlautet, sind seit Mittwoch die ersten größeren Kämpfe mit USA-Streitkräften im Gange, wobei die japanische Kriegsmarine in die Kampfhandlungen eingriff.

Wie das Kaiserliche Hauptquartier meldet, hat die japanische Luftwaffe wieder schwerste Angriffe auf den Flugplatz Nichols bei Manila und Davao durchgeführt. Hallen, Werkstätten und Rollbahnen wurden zerstört.

Wie aus einer aufgefangenen-Rundfunksendung hervorgeht, hat der Oberbefehlshaber der USA-Streitkräfte in Manila, MacArthur, in einer Rundfunkerklärung zugegeben, daß den japanischen Truppen im Zusammenwirken mit See- und Luftstreitkräften eine Landung „an einem gewissen Punkt“ im Norden von Manila gelungen sei.

Wie weiter aus Manila bekannt wird, haben japanische Flugzeuge am Mittwochmittag erneut die Hauptstadt der Philippinen angegriffen und Bomben auf das Hafengebiet in der Nähe von Fort Santiago sowie auf Schiffe im Hafen abgeworfen. Die letzten Augenzeugenberichte besagen, daß neun japanische Kampfflugzeuge unter starkem Flakfeuer in großer Höhe über der Funkstation gesichtet worden seien. Die Zahl der Opfer in Manila soll bereits auf 7000 angestiegen sein.

Die Filipinos. so wird von neutraler Seite mitgeteilt, seien durch die hohen Verluste der US-Truppen stark beeindruckt. Die amerikanische Polizei habe durch ein verstärktes Aufgebot Maßnahmen zur Aufrechterhaltung der Ruhe getroffen.

Auf den Philippinen befinden sich, wie Domei berichtet, schätzungsweise 38.000 Mann amerikanischer und philippinischer Truppen unter Befehl Generals MacArthur, davon 18.000 Mann regulärer Truppen. Die Philippinen seien in drei Wehrbezirke eingeteilt, nämlich in die Bezirke Nord- und Südluzon und Mindanao. Da die philippinische Luftwaffe durch die japanischen Bombenangriffe der letzten zwei Tage stärkstens geschwächt worden sei, sei anzunehmen, daß die Widerstandskraft gegenüber den japanischen Truppen, die heute Morgen erfolgreiche Landungen durchführten, gebrochen sei.

Mit der Präzision eines Uhrwerks

Das kaiserliche Hauptquartier bestätigte am Mittwochmittag die Meldung, daß japanische Armee- und Marinestreitkräfte in engem Zusammenwirken eine erfolgreiche Landung auf der Insel Guam und Wake durchgeführt haben.

Gleichzeitig gaben die Armee- und die Marineabteilung des kaiserlichen Hauptquartiers in einer gemeinsamen Erklärung bekannt, daß die Operationen der japanischen Truppen, die am Morgen des 10. Dezember eine Landung auf den Philippinen durchgeführt haben, in raschem Fortschreiten begriffen sind.

Der Sprecher betonte, daß die Durchführung der Angriffe auf Hawai, Guam, Wake, die Philippinen und Singapur trotz der Streckenausdehnung von 18.000 Kilometer uhrwerkmäßig geklappt habe. Die Angriffe seien genau zur gleichen Zeit erfolgt. Es sei unausbleiblich, daß an einzelnen Stellen ungünstiges Wetter für die Operationen geherrscht habe, doch seien die Ergebnisse auch in diesen Fällen zufriedenstellend gewesen. Die japanischen Überwasserstreitkräfte und die Unterseebootwaffe erlitten am ersten Kampftage keinerlei Verluste, teilte der Sprecher der japanischen Armee in Hongkong mit. Während allen Operationen dieses Tages hatte die Luftwaffe noch nicht einmal zehn Flugzeuge verloren.

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Glodschey: Die Stärke der Flotten im Pazifik

Von unserem Marinemitarbeiter Erich Glodschey

Angesichts der weiten Entfernungen von jeweils mehreren tausend Seemeilen, die zwischen den Hauptstützpunkten der kriegführenden Mächte im Stillen Ozean liegen, kommt es bei einem Vergleich der Flottenstärken vor allem auf die Schiffe mit großem Fahrbereich an. Den Kern der Seestreitkräfte, die im Pazifik handelnd auftreten. bilden also die Schlachtschiffe, Flugzeugträger und Kreuzer.

Als Japan während des Weltkrieges 1914 bis 1918 seine Kriegsflotte gerade an schweren Schiffen erheblich verstärkte, erregte es bei den Vereinigten Staaten heftiges Mißfallen. Die Vereinigten Staaten ihrerseits hatten damals bereits den Bestand Englands an Großkampfschiffen überflügelt. Der englischen Diplomatie gelang es, die USA zur Anerkennung des Grundsatzes der Flottengleichheit zu bringen. Dieser Kuhhandel wurde auf Kosten Japans abgeschlossen. England verriet sein Bündnis mit Japan und unterstütze die USA auf der Flottenkonferenz von Washington 1922 in ihrer Politik, die japanische Kriegsmarine zurückzudrängen. So mußte sich Japan mit dem Verhältnis 3:5:5 in der Flottenstärke gegenüber England und den USA begnügen. Eine ganze Reihe von japanischen Schlachtschiffneubauten mußte damals verschrottet werden.

Amerikanischer Bluff…

Auf diese Weise gab es bis zum Ablauf des Washingtoner Abkommens im Jahre 1936 ein festes Verhältnis zwischen der japanischen und amerikanischen Flottenstärke, dass erst in den letzten fünf Jahren durch die Neubauten verändert worden ist. Agitatorische Stärkevergleiche aus Washington bringen jetzt die Zahl der fertigen, im Bau befindlichen oder gar erst geplanten Kriegsschiffe absichtlich durcheinander und kommen beispielsweise zu dem absurden Vergleich, daß 12 japanischen Schlachtschiffen 32 amerikanische gegenüberstehen sollen oder 6 japanischen Flugzeugträgern, 18 amerikanische, bzw. 38 japanischen Kreuzern 85 entsprechende Schiffe der Amerikaner. Dabei werden die Pläne, die Roosevelt durch den Bau der Zwei-Ozean-Flotte in den nächsten fünf oder zehn Jahren verwirklichen will, bereits als vollendete Tatsache gewertet. Die wirkliche Lage sieht anders aus, wie auch einige englische Flottensachverständige offen zugeben.

…und die Wirklichkeit

Beim Aufhören des Washingtoner Flottenvertrages besaß Japan neun Schlachtschiffe, darunter zwei der „Nagato“-Klasse mit 40,6-Zentimeter-Geschützen. Die Vereinigten Staaten halten 15 Schlachtschiffe, darunter 3 der „West-Virginia“-Klasse mit 40,6-Zentimeter-Geschützen. Die japanischen Neubauten sind unter strenger Geheimhaltung durchgeführt worden, aber man rechnet allgemein damit, daß das als Schulschiff benutzte Schlachtschiff „Hiei“ zusätzlich wieder aufgerüstet werden ist und daß mindestens zwei neue Schlachtschiffe von 42.500 Tonnen mit 40,6-Zentimeter-Geschützen gebaut worden sind. Weitere Neubauten werden vermutet. In den Vereinigten Staaten sind zwar eine Anzahl Schlachtschiffe im Bau, aber fertiggestellt sind nach eigenen USA-Berichten auch erst die beiden 35.000-Tonnen-Schlachtschiffe „Washington“ und „North Carolina“ mit 40,6-Zentirneter-Geschützen. Nach englischen Presseberichten sollen diese Schlachtschiffe aber noch nicht voll dienstbereit sein.

Da drei ältere USA-Schlachtschiffe auf der Atlantikstation Dienst zu tun pflegten, rechnet jetzt beispielsweise der Marinemitarbeiter des Londoner „Daily Telegraph“ damit, daß sich bei Kampfbeginn nur 12 USA-Schlachtschiffe im Pazifik befanden. wo sie der gleichen Anzahl von japanischen Schlachtschiffen gegenüberstanden. Inzwischen haben aber die ersten japanischen Schläge die Stärke der amerikanischen Schlachtschiffflotte im Pazifik fühlbar vermindert. Nach amtlicher japanischer Mitteilung sind zwei USA-Schlachtschiffe im pazifischen Hauptkriegshafen Pearl Harbour (Hawai) versenkt und vier weitere beschädigt werden, ein bedeutsamer Anfangserfolg im Sinne eines Kräfteausgleichs für die weiteren Kampfhandlungen. Die Rückwirkungen auf den Atlantik liegen ebenfalls auf der Hand.

Ein schwerer Verlust

Es handelt sich bei den USA-Verlusten einmal tim das Schlachtschiff „Oklahoma“ (29.000 Tonnen. zehn 35,6-Zentimeter-Geschützen), das 1914 vom Stapel lief, aber inzwischen mehrfach modernisiert worden ist. Wenn Roosevelt den Verlust damit bagatellisieren wollte, daß er ganz beiläufig vom „Kentern eines alten Schlachtschiffes“ sprach, so vermag das nichts an der Schwere dieses Verlustes eines vollwertigen Schlachtschiffes zu ändern. Inzwischen ist in einer Reuters-Meldung aus Washington auch der zweite Schlachtschiffverlust der USA zugegeben werden. Bei diesem Schiff handelt es sich nach japanischen Beobachtungen um die „West Virginia“, das neueste USA-Schlachtschiff von den jetzigen Neubauten. Die „West Virginia“ (31.800 Tonnen) war eines der drei USA-Schlachtschiffe, die mit acht 40,6-Zentimeter-Geschützen bewaffnet sind. Für die Seekriegführung im Pazifik ist ferner zu berücksichtigen, daß die japanischen Schlachtschiffe schon vor der jetzigen Neubauperiode an Geschwindigkeit die US-Schlachtschiffe sämtlich um zwei bis vier Seemeilen übertrafen. Offensichtlich sollte die Verlegung des neuesten schnellen Schlachtschiffs der englischen Flotte „Prince of Wales“ (35.000 Tonnen, zehn 35,6-Zentimeter-Geschütze) nach Singapore hier einen gewissen Ausgleich schaffen, um auf die japanischen Marinekreise Eindruck zu machen. Aber diese Stimmungsmache, die auf Kosten der englischen militärischen Bedürfnisse im Atlantik und im Mittelmeer erfolgte, hat das Zutrauen der japanischen Seeoffiziere zur Angriffskraft ihrer Flotte gegen die materielle Stärke der USA nicht vermindert.

Bei den Flugzeugträgern war ohnehin für Japan ein günstigeres Stärkeverhältnis gegeben. Sechs fertige japanische Flugzeugträger stehen in den Flottenlisten gegen sechs USA-Flugzeugträger, von denen sich nach dem „Daily Expreß“ vier im Pazifik befanden. Einer ist möglicherweise bereits versenkt worden. Durch Neubauten dürfte Japan in der nächsten Zeit schneller einen Zuwachs an Flugzeugträgern erhalten können als die USA-Flotte, deren Bauten später auf Stapel gelegt worden sind. Die USA-Hoffnungen auf den Einsatz von einem oder zwei englischen Flugzeugträgern im Fernen Osten dürften durch die Versenkung der „Ark Royal“ ein wenig gedämpft werden sein.

An fertigen schweren Kreuzern verzeichnete Japan vor Beginn der Neubauperiode 12 Schiffe gegen 18 amerikanische, an leichten Kreuzern 26 gegen 19 der USA. Nun haben die USA inzwischen ihren Bau von- leichten Kreuzern beschleunigt, aber auch Japan ist sicherlich nicht untätig geblieben, Japan hat nach den schon erwähnten eigenen Angaben insbesondere auf dem Gebiete der schweren Kreuzer für den Handelskrieg kräftigen Zuwachs erhalten. Ein Londoner Nachrichtendienst äußert die Vermutung, daß die neuen schweren japanischen Kreuzer ein stärkeres Kaliber als das sonst übliche von 20,3 Zentimeter trügen und sich die Erfahrungen der deutschen Panzerschiffe zunutze gemacht hätten, die ja heute ebenfalls als schwere Kreuzer bezeichnet werden.

Unterseeboote ernste USA-Sorge

Die gleiche englische Quelle rechnet mit dem Vorhandensein von 100 japanischen Zerstörern, wobei aber 41 kleinere Zerstörer nicht mitgerechnet sind. Ihnen stehen etwa 180 größere und kleinere USA-Zerstörer gegenüber, nachdem sich die USA-Flotte durch den Verkauf von 50 älteren Zerstörern an England erheblich geschwächt hatte. Nicht ohne Grund legt der USA-Marineminister Knox auf schnellere Fertigstellung neuer Zerstörer besonderen Wert, denn der weite Fahrbereich der japanischen Unterseeboote (darunter zahlreiche Unterseekreuzer nach deutschem Vorbild des Weltkrieges) ist bekannt. Londoner Berichte rechnen jetzt mit 74 fertigen japanischen Unterseebooten, die zusammen mit der japanischen Marineluftwaffe fortan eine ernste Sorge der USA-Marine sind, die nun im Pazifik sehr lange Seewege zu schützen hat.

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U.S. War Department (December 11, 1941)

Communiqué No. 3

The Commanding General, Far East Command, confirms the sinking of a 29,000-ton Japanese battleship by the U.S. Army Air Forces north of Luzon. This battleship is believed to be the 29,000-ton HARUNA or a vessel of the HARUNA class.

Continued attempts by strong Japanese forces to establish themselves along the northern coast of Luzon were reported. Determined resistance has confined this action to the vicinity of Aparri, at the extreme northern tip of Luzon, where the Japanese attempted to establish a beachhead yesterday. Air activity continued in the vicinity of Manila, with intermittent attacks on airfields at Cavite and Nichols Field throughout the day.

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U.S. Navy Department (December 11, 1941)

Communiqué No. 2

The Marine garrison on Wake Island has been subject to four separate attacks in the last 48 hours by enemy aircraft and one by light naval units. Despite the loss of part of the defending planes and the damage to material and personnel, the defending garrison succeeded in sinking one light cruiser and one destroyer of the enemy forces by air action. A resumption of the attack and a probable landing attempt is expected. The Marine garrison is continuing to resist. The above report is based on information received up until noon December 11.

Communiqué No. 3

The Navy Department announced that Adm. Thomas C. Hart, USN, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet, has reported that Navy patrol planes scored bomb hits on a Japanese battleship of the KONGO class off the coast of Luzon. The ship was badly damaged. This is the second Japanese battleship to be bombed effectively by U.S. forces.

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The Pittsburgh Press (December 11, 1941)

U.S. DECLARES WAR ON AXIS
Rome and Berlin first to issue hostile edicts

Battles rage in Philippines and Malaya; Hitler says Nazis will strike quickly
By Joe Alex Morris, United Press war editor

Democracy mobilized its might against the Axis today.

Germany and Italy formally joined Japan in the conflict against America today and Congress answered immediately with a declaration of war on Germany and Italy.

Completing mobilization of great powers, President Roosevelt promised that the strength and determination of free peoples would “ensure a world victory” over savage and barbarous forces now moving toward the western hemisphere in an effort to enslave peoples everywhere.

Congress approved within an hour his request for a declaration of war.

The turning of machinery that plunged five continents into unprecedented conflict was swift but the men on the fighting fronts were already in action. A 29,000-ton Japanese battleship sank in flames under American aerial bombs off the Philippines, and defense forces were opposing a Japanese landing force in the Aparri sector of Northern Luzon.

The fighting fronts also were aflame in Russia, on the Libyan desert, in Malaya and China.

But for the moment, the spotlight centered on the men in positions of leadership in America, Great Britain and the Soviet Union on the side of the Allies and in Germany, Italy and Japan on the side of the Axis.

Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini announced their formal declarations of war before cheering party groups in Berlin and Rome and Hitler asserted that the Axis would “always strike first.”

Spain was reported to have closed her frontier with France, preventing departure of Americans from Axis-dominated Europe, and there were increasing indications that Vichy France had made a deal to throw its naval strength to the side of Germany as a result of a conference at Turin between Vice Premier Adm. Darlan and Italian Foreign Minister Count Ciano.

A break between the United States and Vichy appeared more than ever likely, with the American seizure of French Martinique believed probable.

On the other side of the picture, it was believed that Germany was pressing France for use of the important port of Dakar, on the West African coast commanding the South Atlantic sea lanes. Axis bases at Dakar presumably would be a step toward control of the southern route to the Americas, including Azores Islands owned by Portugal.

Washington sources expressed belief that a “race” for the stepping stones of the Atlantic – particularly the Azores, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Madeira and Dakar – might soon be in progress.

In London, Prime Minister Winston Churchill told the British nation that this was a life-or-death struggle and that “we will go forward to victory.”

In Berlin, Hitler declared that Axis-held Europe was “impregnable” and that Germany would break all opposition.

In Rome, Mussolini shouted that “we shall wage war to conquer.”

Significantly, Berlin, Rome and Tokyo were silent regarding possible Soviet participation in the Far Eastern war.

At Moscow, where Josef V. Stalin was a key figure in the world struggle, there was silence on the new phase of hostilities but the Red Army was on the offensive again and remained a vigorous factor in the Allied hopes of victory.

On the actual war fronts, Australian bombers attacked the Japanese air base at Pobra, in the East Indies, and American defense forces in the Philippines reported that they still were fighting off Japanese invaders.

The Japanese clung to a foothold in Northern Luzon province where they had landed after suffering severe losses, but war communiques issued at Manila said that the enemy was being mopped up near Lingayen and that the situation was under control.

Japanese losses in a number of attacks on Northern Luzon were described as heavy. Over Manila, the skies were clear again as American interceptor planes drove back new Japanese bomber squadrons and the wreckage of 15 enemy craft was scattered across the low hills behind the capital.

On the eastern coast of Malaya, British Imperials aided by British and Dutch fighting planes fought back against a Japanese invasion headed toward the great naval base of Singapore and reported that, after losing Kota Bharu airdrome near the Thailand border, they had prevented any farther advances. The Japanese still were hammering at the Kuantan area, 200 miles north of Singapore in an effort to gain a foothold there.

Two thousand survivors of some 2,700 men on the British dreadnaughts HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse reached safety and told how the two warships fought for three hours against attacks by 60 “suicide” Japanese bombers, shooting down at least seven of the enemy craft before they went down with guns still roaring.

Behind the barricades at Hongkong, besieged by Japanese warships, hammered by Japanese airplanes and assaulted from land by Japanese infantry, the British forces were reported holding their ground after having sunk two enemy transports and destroyed at least one company of enemy troops. The Japanese claimed that they had sunk two British gunboats near Hongkong.

Other claims broadcast by the official news agency from Tokyo included. Destruction of 197 American airplanes in two days, including 45 shot down and 71 destroyed on the ground at Iba, in the Philippines; sinking of an American destroyer, a submarine and a special service ship.

The German propaganda agency reported that the aircraft carrier USS Lexington of 33,000 tons had been sunk off Hawaii, but Tokyo made no definite claim in this connection.

The Japanese, however, did report the capture of Guam, where 350 Americans were taken prisoner, and called up the Dutch East Indies to surrender because Japan had “broken” British and American sea power in the Pacific and a fight would be useless. The Dutch replied by sending air reinforcements to British Malaya.

British fighting men replied to the Axis challenge in North Africa, too. The Imperial forces, now under a new 44-year-old commander, Maj. Gen. Neil M. Ritchie, crashed forward against the crack panzer divisions in the Libyan desert, driving them back from the Tobruk-El Adem sector toward their defense lines at Derna and raising the hope that they could be chased from all of North Africa.

Mr. Churchill, speaking to Commons, said that the goal of destroying all Axis armored forces in Libya might soon be within reach, and both Rome and Berlin acknowledged reverses.

On the Eastern Front, the Red Army continued to drive forward against the stalled Axis forces in bitterly cold weather, striking to regain all of the Donets Basin and recapture the important city of Kharkov.

British losses cut

In the Battle of the Atlantic, Mr. Churchill said that British shipping losses had been reduced to less than one-fifth of the losses suffered in four months ending last June 30. He acknowledged that American war supplies might be reduced as a result of the conflict in the Far East but he pledged Britain to keep up her supplies to the Russians and said that four-fifths of the human race was fighting against the “criminal” Axis leaders.

But, he emphasized, this is a war against tremendously strong military powers and it will be long war before victory is possible.

A short time later, the Berlin and Rome radios were carrying the speeches of Hitler and Mussolini. The Nazi Fuehrer’s speech as heard by the United Press listening post was so interwoven with an English text explaining what he said that it appeared to be a record, prepared to achieve the greatest possible propaganda effect in England and America.

All U.S. reporters in Berlin arrested

BERLIN (German broadcasts recorded by UP) – All American newspaper and Press Association correspondents in Berlin were arrested at midnight, in retaliation for the arrest of German correspondents in the United States.

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Hitler, Il Duce go to Japs’ aid

They blame whole thing on United States

BERLIN (UP, German radio recorded in New York) – Germany and her Axis partner, Italy, today declared war on the United States.

Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop made the formal declaration on behalf of Germany at noon (5 a.m. EST) in a note handed to the American charge d’affaires in Berlin.

Adolf Hitler in a speech before the Nazi Reichstag, are honoring their obligations under the tri-power military alliance and coming to the aid of Japan “in the struggle forced upon her.”

Germany and Italy, Hitler told the Reichstag, are honoring their obligations under the tri-power military alliance and coming to the aid of Japan “in the struggle forced upon her.”

The association of Germany, Italy and Japan, proclaimed the Fuehrer, will last “at least as long as the war lasts.”

Simultaneously, Premier Benito Mussolini appeared on the balcony of Venice Palace in Rome and announced to the throngs in the square below that the Axis partners have gone to war against the United States.

Germany, Hitler assured his audience, has the power and foresight to take all necessary measures for the world conflict.

“We will always strike first,” he said. “We will always deal the first blow.”

Germany, Italy and Japan, he revealed, have bound themselves in a formal alliance of four articles.

They agree:

• To carry on to final victory the war against Britain and the United States with “every conceivable means.”

• Not to conclude a separate peace or armistice.

• To continue the closest collaboration and to establish a new and lasting order along the lines of the Tri-Partite Agreement.

• To effectuate the pact immediately.

“After peace has been won,” said Hitler, “the three countries will proceed in close collaboration to guarantee a lasting peace.”

Assails Roosevelt

President Roosevelt, charged the Fuehrer, has done “everything in his power” to prevent Germany and Italy from securing their right of existence.

“Our patience,” he shouted, “has come to the straining point. We had always tried to prevent a break with the United States.”

“But now, Italy and Germany, in loyal fulfillment of their obligations under the Axis agreement, associate themselves with Japan in the struggle against America and Britain.

Never before, said Hitler, has Germany been so united.

“No one will vanquish Germany,” he declared. “No one will destroy German unity. Germany is strong. Let us thank God that we can enter our names in the history of the

Singing solemn, sad

As Hitler concluded speaking at 4:33 p.m. (9:33 a.m. EST) after making his war declaration four minutes earlier, Reichsmarshal Herman Goering rose and said: “God bless our Fuehrer. God bless our Reich.”

The Reichstag, assembled in the Kroll Opera House, rose and sang “Deutschland Ueber Alles” and the Nazi Horst Wessel song.

The United Press listening post reported that the singing was solemn and sounded sad. The listening post believed that the German broadcast may not have been made direct from radio microphones but from a recording of Hitler’s speech. They reported that a Nazi announcer interrupted repeatedly to give an English translation – a practice never before employed. Hitler spoke in a low, emotionless voice until he neared the end of his address when his voice rose to the familiar shrillness.*

Hitler led up to his declaration against the United States with a lengthy attack upon President Roosevelt and his allegedly anti-German policy. He listed a long series of American attacks against Germany. His listeners cheered and laughed at his occasional bursts of satire. Once the broadcast was interrupted by a chorus of “pfui” from the Reichstag members.

Admits Libyan defeat

Hitler made these points:

• That Britain and the United States have ‘flagrantly violated” international law.

• That the United States “plans to take over the British Empire in the hour of its collapse as safely and with as little danger as possible.”

• That the Axis has suffered a temporary defeat in Libya due to British superiority in heavy tanks.

• That only winter has halted the Nazi attack on Russia and that it will be resumed but not before next summer.

• That the United States was preparing plans for an attack upon Germany in 1943.

“A year of historical events is ending,” said Hitler. “A year of the greatest decisions is coming. If Providence has decided that a struggle shall occur, I am thankful that I have been elected to lead this struggle which will decide our future for 500 or 1,000 years.”

Calls nation secure

He claimed Germany now stands secure behind a series of fortresses, air bases and naval bases which have been built from the Kirkenes in far northern Norway to the frontiers of Spain.

“It is my unshakeable determination to make this European Front,” he said, “unassailable and impregnable.”

Wants to ‘save’ Europe

He charged that America’s threat to Europe stems from “an inheritance of Jewish and Negro spirit.”

“Fighting was unavoidable,” he said. “Germany is the chief champion of this fight. The Germans are in the struggle to save the interests of the whole of Europe.”

Hitler said that “a blind man” could have seen that Russia was preparing to challenge Germany and that Soviet intentions became clear after Joseph Stalin instigated the coup d’etat in Yugoslavia which precipitated Germany’s campaign in the Balkans.

“We will always strike first,” he said. “We will always deal the first blow as we did with Russia.”

Charges conspiracy

Hitler again claimed that Britain and Russia secretly conspired to attack Germany in the summer of 1941 after which Britain would take the offensive. He said that these intentions were revealed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill at a secret mission of the British Parliament.

Hitler said that if Finland had joined with Germany “her own existence and that of the other Scandinavian states would rapidly have come to an end.”

Hitler claimed that Germany held 3,806,000 Russian prisoners up to November 28.

He placed German casualties in Russia up to December 1 at 573,415 killed, wounded and missing. He listed them as: 162,314 killed; 377,767 wounded; 33,334 missing.

Every step forward in Russia, he said, had been fought for – against Russian resistance, against Russian heat, Russian mud, Russian cold.

No ill will toward U.S.

Germany, Hitler insisted, never had any ill will toward the United States. Germany had no colonies or claims in North America; had never interfered in American affairs; had aided the United States in winning its war of independence; had never participated in any war against the United States.

He said the United States went to war against the Reich in 1917 for “reasons wholly spurious.”

He said differences of government between the two countries were not sufficient as a cause for bad feeling.

“There are two persons responsible for relations between the United States and Germany,” he said. “They are Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Wilson broke a pledge to Germany.”

[NormanStewart]

Mussolini announces war declaration

ROME (UP, via Buenos Aires) – Italy declared war on the United States today when Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano summoned U.S. Charge d’Affaires George Wadsworth to the Foreign Office and handed him his passports.

“His Majesty, the King-Emperor of Italy, declares that Italy considers herself in a state of war with the United States of America from today,” Ciano said in a communication to Wadsworth.

Italy’s war declaration was proclaimed by Premier Benito Mussolini in a speech before a vast assemblage of cheering Italians from the balcony of Venice Palace.

Mussolini said that “one man alone” is responsible for “this new war because by his continued provocations he has prepared for war day by day with diabolic persistence.” (The reference presumably was to President Roosevelt.)

Promises victory

“Italian men and women will be worthy of this great hour,” he added.

“Fascist Italy and National Socialist Germany have allied themselves with Japan in a war against the United States of America,” he said.

“We shall bring you victory.”

“This is a great day in the history of the continent of Europe,” Mussolini continued.

“Italy and her ally Germany together with Japan enter the war against the United States.

“One hundred and fifty million men are resolute to do everything to reach final victory.

“We shall wage war in order to conquer.

“After an infinite series of provocations, the Japanese have struck in the Pacific and have achieved great victories.

“It is a privilege to fight at their sides.

“The Tripartite Pact [the German-Italian-Japanese alliance, now brought into active force] is a sure guarantee of victory and a powerful instrument for a just peace for the nations.”

The approximately 100,000 persons who crowded the Venice Square and overflowed into nearby streets called Mussolini back to the balcony nine times to acknowledge their cheers.

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ARMY BOMBERS SINK JAP BATTLESHIP
Planes blast Jap vessel in Luzon action

Stimson confirms report of success – invasion continues

Where fighting rages in Philippines

U.S. forces fought off the Japanese from Manila to the top of Luzon Island today. (1) A Japanese battleship was set afire and sunk off the north coast. (2) An invasion thrust was beaten back at San Fernando. (3) Mopping-up operations against Japanese landing parties was in progress at Lingayen, 100 miles north of Manila. (4) Japanese planes continued to raid the great Cavite Naval Base and the Army air base at Nichols Field.

WASHINGTON (UP) – Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson today confirmed the sinking of the 29,000-ton Japanese battleship Haruna off the northern coast of Luzon yesterday by U.S. Army bombers.

Mr. Stimson told a press conference that the Office of Naval Intelligence had just “confirmed the sinking by Army bombers of the 29,000-ton Japanese battleship Haruna off Luzon.”

He made the announcement just before the War Department issued a 10:30 a.m. communique on Philippine operations in which the sinking of the battleship was reported.

The Haruna (a vessel of 29,330 tons) was built in 1913 and carried 980 officers and men. The ship was armed with eight 14-inch guns, 16 6-inch guns and lesser arms. The Haruna carried three aircraft, which were added to her equipment in 1927. The ship was refitted between 1926 and 1930.

Thus the United States has revenged at least in part the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Sunday in which the loss of one old U.S. battleship has been officially announced and other losses reported.

The War Department communique said that there were continued attempts by strong Japanese forces to establish themselves along the northern coast of Luzon.

“Determined resistance has confined this action to the attack in the vicinity of Aparri, at the extreme northern tip of Luzon, where the Japanese attempted to establish a beachhead yesterday,” the communique said.

“Air activity continued in the vicinity of Manila, with intermittent attacks on airfields at Cavite and Nichols Field throughout the day.”

Mr. Stimson said that Aparri is just a “small landing place,” which is shut off from the main part of the island by mountains, and that if the Japanese attempt to transport an army through the passes, it will “be a slow job.”

Mr. Stimson said that he had sent a message to Lt. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, commander of U.S. Far Eastern forces, congratulating him on the sinking, his defense against “great odds” and the conduct of the U.S. Army and Philippine troops.

Heavy loss of planes

Mr. Stimson predicted the ultimate triumph of the United States cause over the “autocratic” powers.

He said there was a “heavy loss” of planes in Hawaii as a result of Sunday’s surprise raid, but said that it “can and is being made good at the present moment.”

He also said that full details of the attack are not yet known, but that the principal concern of the War Department is getting defenses strengthened everywhere.

“We do not believe in recrimination of placing of the blame on anybody at this time,” Mr. Stimson said. “We believe that is a sign of immaturity. The investigations can come later. Now we are stressing preparedness.”

Praises aviators

He said that one incident had given him great encouragement during the attack on Hawaii. While the bombing was in progress, he revealed, a flight of Flying Fortresses arrived at Hawaii from San Francisco. Mr. Stimson said that the first of these planes was shot down, but the others were able to land safely at other airports. Of these, he said two suffered slight damage which has been repaired.

He said that this showed the ability of American soldiers to keep their heads and take care of themselves.

Mr. Stimson told newsmen that we must expect initial reverses but that it is “the last shots and not the first that count.”

Early reverses seen

He said the American people should be careful never to underestimate the ability of the Japanese seamen, because “I’ve seen enough of them in the Far East to know.”

“The American people have been put through a very heavy test during the past few days,” Mr. Stimson said. “When we survey the situation cold-bloodedly, we must expect initial reverses.”

He said that history shows there are three periods in a war. He said that the first is the so-called “unset” during which governments of free peoples are at a distinct disadvantage. The others are the periods when the drag begins to weigh down on the nations involved, and the finish.

“It has almost been proved a fact that the free people win because of their endurance,” Stimson said. “Such governments have a momentum from the people that no one man can possibly have.”

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Army beats off Luzon invaders

By Frank Hewlett, United Press staff writer

MANILA, Philippines – An Army communique announced today that the situation was completely in hand in the fight against a Japanese attempt to invade the Philippines.

Later communiques, indicating an increasingly favorable United States position, said a Japanese detachment which landed near Lingayen on the west coast of Luzon Island was being disposed of in mopping-up operations and that interceptor planes had driven off a Japanese bombing formation which brought a noon air raid alarm to Manila.

The Army reported the sinking of the Japanese battleship Haruna off the northern coast of Luzon and said it was set afire by three direct hits from a bombing plane. Beside the direct hits, the plane dropped two bombs close to the ship’s sides.

As regards the fight against the Japanese attempt to invade Luzon, the main island of the Philippines, in a threat to Manila, the great Cavite Naval Base and the Army airfields, the communique asserted that a Philippine Army division had beaten back light Japanese troop attacks near Lingayen, in Pangasinan Province, 100 miles north of Manila.

This point is the closest to which the Japanese had come to Manila in their invasion attempts, which previously had been reported as centering farther north on the west coast and on the north coast. Lingayen, an important trade center, is on the Gulf of Lingayen. A direct mainline railroad connects it with Manila.

The Army communique:

“The situation is completely in hand. There have been no major developments since yesterday with the one exception of light attacks by ground troops in the vicinity of Lingayen which were repulsed by one Filipino Army division.

“One of our Army bombers late yesterday attacked a Japanese battleship of the Hiranuma 29,000-ton class, a capital ship, 10 miles northeast of northern Luzon and scored three direct hits and two very close alongside.

“When the bomber left, the battleship was blazing fiercely.”

The Manila Tribune reported that an American tank ship was sunk during yesterday’s Japanese raids on Manila and that one American and one British freighter were damaged. Several seamen were killed and at least 24 wounded, the Tribune said.

The Tribune said 15 Japanese planes were shot down in yesterday’s raids, the Bulletin nine.

Deaths reported

The Tribune reported 30 civilians killed and 250 wounded in all. The Bulletin reported 37 killed and 46 wounded in the Pasay suburb alone and said at least 140 wounded were brought to Manila from the Cavite Naval Base.

The Bulletin reported that two priests had been arrested in San Fernando, Pampanga Province, for alleged fifth column activities.

San Fernando, mentioned in the War Department communique as a zone of Japanese invasion attempts, is on the west coast of Luzon, north of Lingayen Gulf.

The Bulletin also asserted that in Manila, a signal line between Nichols Field and an air raid tower was cut, supposedly by fifth columnists, and delayed the alarm when the Japs raided the Manila Bay area yesterday.

Gas instruction given

Air Raid Chief Warden Alfredo G. Eugenio issued detailed instructions to the public for procedure in event of gas attacks.

The Tribune reported that a Filipino air squadron under Capt. Jesus Villamor chased a superior force of 20 enemy planes from Zablan Field, near Manila, yesterday and hit and possibly downed one.

An anti-aircraft gun crew at Zablan Field was credited with downing another bomber.

Both Nichols Field and nearby Nielson Airport were reported damaged slightly.

Reliable informants said Lt. Andrew Krieger of the U.S. Army Air Forces parachuted to safety from his plane during yesterday’s raids after seeing three Japs parachuting from a plane.

One raid alarm

Philippine Army men fought off one low-flying Japanese plane with machine guns, and it was believed that the plane crashed in the hills near Manila.

Radio Mexico, quoting Manila advices, reported that the Japs lost 54 planes yesterday in Philippine operations.

There was a one-hour air raid alarm in Manila during the night, ending at 1 a.m.

Japanese reconnaissance planes were reported to have flown over the city, circled the Cavite Naval Base, and to have flown off westward.

Maj. LeGrande A. Diller, Army spokesman, said a checkup showed that there was no truth in a report that a German pilot had been shot down in a Japanese plane.

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WAR BULLETINS!

U.S. ambassador and Petain meet

VICHY – Adm. William D. Leahy, U.S. ambassador to Vichy, conferred with Chief of State Marshal Henri Philippe Petain for 30 minutes tonight.

British commander missing

SINGAPORE – Sir Tom Phillips, commander-in-chief of Britain’s Far Eastern Fleet, is missing in the HMS Prince of Wales-Repulse disaster, an official communique said tonight. Capt. John Leach of the Prince of Wales is also missing, the communique said.

Autos on Turnpike searched

SOMERSET, Pennsylvania – All autos entering the tunnels on the Pennsylvania Turnpike are being searched by State Motor Police against any possible acts of sabotage.

British hold in northern Malaya

SINGAPORE – A British communique reported today that Japanese air and sea forces still appear to be engaged in raiding operations over wide areas of the Pacific. The communique said that British defenses in northern Malaya are holding firmly against Japanese attacks and that “there appears to be no change in the enemy’s plans.”

No further Japanese efforts to land in the Kuantan area, north of Singapore, were reported.

18-64 draft ages suggested

WASHINGTON – Brig. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, director of Selective Service, said today that it might be desirable eventually to register all men between the ages of 18 and 64, inclusive, for military service, civilian defense and other purposes.

Roosevelt praises ‘political truce’

WASHINGTON – President Roosevelt today expressed his appreciation to leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties for their “political truce” invoked for the duration of the emergency and suggested that the facilities of the party organizations be used in civilian defense.

Casualty list received

WASHINGTON – Chairman David I. Walsh, D-Massachusetts, of the Senate Naval Affairs Committee said today that the Hawaiian casualty list was received by the Navy this morning but will not be made public for two or three days so that next of kin can be notified first.

Foreign service approved

WASHINGTON – The Senate and House today swiftly passed legislation permitting President Roosevelt to use U.S. troops anywhere in the world in prosecution of the war against the Axis. The measure also extends the term of service for selectees to six months past the duration of war.

Honolulu evacuation plans ready

WASHINGTON – Plans have been completed to evacuate 60,000 civilians from the city of Honolulu if it is threatened with sea or air attack again. The program provides for the movement of 40,000 civilians to camp sites scattered over the island of Oahu, and another 20,000 to small villages on the lee side of the island.

Attack on Jap base reported

BATAVIA, NEI – The official Aneta News Agency today reported that Australian bombers have attacked a Japanese air base on the island of Pobre, between the Celebes and the Japanese island of Palau. Pobre is southeast of the Philippines.

Nazis execute 11 Frenchmen

VICHY – German authorities in Brest have executed 11 Frenchmen for illegal possession of arms. The executions bring to a total of 199 the number of persons executed in occupied France in reprisal for anti-German activities.

Americans seek way home

LONDON – The Exchange Telegraph Agency reported from Lisbon today that many Americans had arrived there from France in hope of getting passage to the United States.

Filipinos to ‘do part to the end’

MANILA, Philippines – President Manuel Quezon, replying to President Roosevelt’s “heartening message,” today asserted that the Philippines “will do their part to the end.” The Malacanan (Philippine White House) announced that Quezon is reorganizing the Civilian Emergency Administration to enable its more efficient operations.

U.S. correspondents restricted

LONDON – The United Press listening post heard the official German news agency report that American press correspondents in Paris have been banned from press conferences there and ordered to remain in their homes.

Trading in Axis dollar bonds suspended

NEW YORK – Trading in Italian and German dollar bonds was suspended by the New York Stock Exchange today following the declarations of war on the United States by both those countries.

Writer hits Axis hard

LONDON – German soldiers “cry like children” and Italians “die like flies” in the severe cold on the Russian front, Radio Moscow said today.

Taft predicts unlimited support

WASHINGTON – Sen. Robert A. Taft, R-Ohio, said today that President Roosevelt will have the unlimited support of every American in the all-out war which he predicted will last at least five years.

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Radio advised to be careful

Avoid ‘horror and undue excitement,’ it is told

WASHINGTON (UP) – President Neville Miller of the National Association of Broadcasters advised radio stations today to use “unusually careful editorial judgment” in selecting war news.

Mr. Miller said it was equally important that announcers and newscasters report war news “calmly, slowly and deliberately, so as to avoid horror, suspense and undue excitement.” He agreed with the War Department that definite periods should be established for handling of war news “except for news of transcendent importance.”

Chairman James Lawrence Fly of the Federal Communications Commission, meanwhile, assured the radio industry that their facilities generally would remain in private hands. He said censorship was not being undertaken.

An order signed by President Roosevelt yesterday gives the Defense Communications Boad authority to designate radio facilities for the “use, control, inspection or closure” by the War or Navy Department or other government agency. It was explained that the order mainly affected stations used for point-to-point broadcasting of messages which could be used to augment the communication facilities of the Army and Navy.

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Raid closings hamper coast defense work

Four aircraft plants are forced to shut in new blackout
By the United Press

Southern California’s defense industries, including aircraft plants building $1 billion worth of warplanes, sought today to bolster defense precautions to prevent costly shutdowns during air raid alarms.

Four aircraft plants were closed last night, their production of vital planes and parts halted, because of a three-hour air raid alarm during which the Army said an enemy plane was overhead.

Consolidated Aircraft, building $750 million worth of heavy bombers, Ryan Aeronautical and Solar Aircraft, building training planes, and Rohr Aircraft, manufacturer of equipment, were told by the Army to order their 17,000 night-shift workers home because their planes could not be completely blacked out.

Shipyards hampered

Shipyards, where most of the activity is outdoors, were also hampered by the blackouts and production was delayed.

The Army said it would cooperate to prevent delays when possible and ordered elimination of all practice blackouts. The alert signals will also be dispensed with and henceforth warnings will be flashed only when aircraft is approaching and immediately full blackouts are necessitated.

The alarm last night was spread throughout Southern California from Bakersfield to the border town of Tijuana, Mexico, and the southern tip of Nevada where Boulder Dam is located, when the Army heard an unidentified plane “over and south of Los Angeles.”

Planes sent up

Planes of the Interceptor Command were sent up, anti-aircraft units were ordered to blast the plane if it were spotted, and the entire area was blacked out. Army searchlights pierced the night.

Col. Harry S. Fuller, air raid warning official here, said that “by a process of elimination” the Army concluded the unidentified plane was an enemy craft.

The blackout through the area was “near perfect” with the exception of Los Angeles where it was “spotty,” he said.

The Pacific Northwest, from Roseburg, Oregon, to Alaska and west of the Cascade Mountains, underwent its third night of blackout. Radio stations closed down at 7:30 p.m. (10:30 p.m. EST), although lights were not turned off until 1:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. EST) in Washington and Oregon. British Columbia, blanketed by a heavy fog, went on a complete blackout basis at dusk.

Perfect ARP systems

Prodded by New York Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, director of Civilian Defense, Pacific Coast cities began perfecting their air raid warden systems. He said San Francisco, and all other exposed cities, needed gas masks, more firefighting equipment, more air raid wardens, more auxiliary firefighters, more drills.

LaGuardia said he was “not satisfied with civilian defense forces anywhere,” but that the United States, after three days of war, was ahead of Great Britain at a corresponding period of the European war.

In Portland, Oregon, the city council passed an ordinance providing $500 fine and six months’ imprisonment for violation of blackout regulations.

Has third alarm

Metropolitan New York had its third alarm in 24 hours yesterday.

The eastern alarm was attributed, as were the two before it, to overzealousness on the part of warning signal operators. Planes were spotted, but they turned out to be U.S. naval craft. Tuesday’s two alarms were traced to a “phony tip.”

The latest New York alarm caught the city’s millions during the morning rush hour. Air raid wardens herded crowds off the streets, stopped children en route to school and sent them home.

Lasts 12 minutes

The alarm lasted 12 minutes in Manhattan, longer in other boroughs and counties on Long Island, where the sirens first began shrieking.

All patients who could be removed were ordered evacuated from the U.S. Veterans Hospital near San Francisco’s Golden Gate.

Canadian and U.S. military planes scoured the fog-shrouded Pacific coastal waters from Vancouver Island to Alaska for Japanese aircraft carriers and other enemy craft.

RCAF authorities refused to comment on the results.

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Senator halts vote to allow troops abroad

Johnson says AEF sought; draftee age minimum slash opposed

WASHINGTON (UP) – Immediate congressional approval of legislation authorizing use of selectees and National Guardsmen outside the Western Hemisphere was blocked today by Sen. Hiram W. Johnson, R-California, because he understood “it’s for an AEF.”

The House was prepared to pass the legislation, but deferred action pending Senate approval.

Mr. Johnson objected after there developed a parliamentary tangle requiring unanimous consent to bring up the proposal in advance of action on the chamber’s “unfinished business” – a tristate river compact.

He told reporters later that his maneuver gave him time to study the measure.

The legislation was called up by Chairman Robert R. Reynolds, D-North Carolina, of the Military Affairs Committee, who believes that an AEF of millions of men will be needed to crush Japan and defeat Germany if formal hostilities with that nation begin.

In the House, Chairman Andrew J. May, D-Kentucky, of the Military Affairs Committee announced he would oppose any proposal to lower the minimum draft age from 21 to 18 years. He said the War Department had sent the committee no request for legislation to broaden the present age limits of 21-28 to 18-44, but that such a proposal would be given “fair and impartial hearings” if offered.

“I am ready to do whatever is necessary to help this country win,” he said, “but I don’t want to go below the age of 21.”

Rep. Hamilton Fish, R-New York, who returned recently from active duty with the Army, said he would support the bill eliminating hemisphere restrictions on use of troops because “it is very proper in time of war.”

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Mexican troops rushed to defend Pacific Coast

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (UP) – All Mexican troops, airplanes and gunboats “that can be spared” were moving west today and it was revealed that Gen. Lazaro Cardenas, former Mexican president, had been named commander of Mexico’s entire armed forces on the Pacific from the American border to Guatemala.

President Manuel Avila Camacho designated Gen. Cardenas to coordinate the nation’s emergency defense plans in cooperation with the United States against a possible invasion threat by Japan.

In a special presidential decree, President Camacho consolidated 12 western military zones and two naval zones to be commanded by Gen. Cardenas from headquarters at Ensenada, Baja California.

Meanwhile, six generals and one admiral of the Spanish Republic, now refugees in Mexico from the regime of Gen. Francisco Franco, offered President Avila Camacho the service of hundreds of other refugees with military and technical training.

The Defense Ministry did not reveal the exact number of troops or planes to be concentrated on the Pacific. The force would admittedly be limited since first-line troops under arms now total less than 60,000 men and the air force can count on less than 100 planes.

Nevertheless, the concentration will be of inestimable value in strengthening vigilance against surprise attacks along the 4,574 miles of Mexican coastline in the Pacific.

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May be fighting Japs in Philippines

The picture above and the one immediately below, just received from the Philippines, are among the latest showing U.S. defense forces in the islands. A battery gun section is shown above in action during maneuvers. It was made just before the war started. This unit may be in actual combat with the Jap invaders today.

Men of the Coast Artillery are shown loading a 10-inch gun during Army maneuvers in the Philippines.

This telephoto shows a battleship of the Haruna class of Japanese warships, one of which was sunk by a U.S. Army plane off the Philippines.

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197 U.S. airplanes lost in Philippine fighting, Japs say

Prisoners, ships seized at Guam, submarine and service vessel sunk off Hawaiian Islands, Tokyo radio reports – Lexington sunk, Berlin says
By the United Press

Japan asserted officially today that its forces had destroyed 197 U.S. planes in two-day operations in the Philippines and had sunk an American destroyer, a submarine and a special service ship in operations off the Hawaiian Islands.

A German broadcast quoted Tokyo as claiming the sinking of the 33,000-ton aircraft carrier USS Lexington off Hawaii.

Imperial Headquarters at Tokyo asserted that Japanese troops, landing on America’s outpost islands of Guam, had taken about 350 prisoners, captured much material and seized key points in the harbor without loss.

A 3,000-ton American oil tanker was captured in the harbor, Tokyo asserted, and its captain and crew of 30 made prisoner.

Plane losses listed

It was asserted further that five of a formation of seven American planes had been shot down in air attacks on Wake Island and that numerous “military objectives” had been destroyed.

Tokyo claimed that 45 American planes were shot down and 71 destroyed on the ground in Japanese attacks on Iba and other airfields in the Philippines Tuesday against the loss of five Japanese planes.

Imperial Headquarters claimed that in big-scale attacks on the Manila zone yesterday, 45 American planes were shot down and that 36 grounded planes were destroyed.

Tell of suicide attacks

A later communique asserted that in the Manila attacks, a transport was heavily damaged and that an arsenal was exploded at nearby Cavite Naval Base.

Loss of five Japanese planes was admitted. Two of the planes, it was said, dived headlong into their objectives in suicide attacks.

It was said that two British gunboats were sunk by direct bomb hits in an attack on Hong Kong.

Admit ‘warship’ lost

It was asserted that only three Japanese planes were lost in the attacks by which the British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse were sunk, and Japanese naval planes, attacking the Kuantan Air Base in Malaya, destroyed 10 British planes. It was asserted that other Navy bombers destroyed a 7,000-ton British freighter off eastern Malaya.

Radio Vichy reported a Japanese naval admission that “a warship” had been sunk yesterday. Germany reported from Tokyo the admission that a submarine chaser had been lost in Philippine landing operations.

Radio Vichy said Tokyo “confirmed” that attacks on U.S. warships had been made by torpedo-carrying planes, none of which was lost.

Fleet supremacy claimed

Radio Vichy quoted the Japanese that considerable numbers of troops had landed on Luzon Island in the Philippines and that the position of the American troops was “gravely endangered.”

A Tokyo Navy spokesman said Japan was determined and prepared to assume control of the air over the Pacific and the Indian Oceans.

“Contrary to Anglo-American expectations,” the spokesman said, “the qualitative strength of the Japanese fleet increased after the Washington Naval Conference of 1928. The United States and Great Britain forced Japan to have a weaker fleet as compared with theirs, believing thus to prevent the Japanese fleet from maintaining supremacy.

“The unexpected naval victory off Hawaii reversed completely the proportion established by the Washington Conference.

“The Japanese fleet will now let the facts talk, showing the entire world its supremacy.”

Indies surrender seen

Another Japanese broadcast suggested that in view of “tremendous Japanese success,” the Netherlands East Indies would soon surrender “to prevent needless sacrifice.”

Tokyo said that it had concluded a defensive and “offensive” pact with Thailand today (Thursday), “similar to that with French Indochina.”

It was added that the Thai government had proclaimed “a state of war” – possibly martial law – and asked its public to respect order.

The Japanese government information board said that 270 Americans and Britons had been detained in Tokyo “as a precaution for their protection and well-being.” Three to four newspapermen were included.

[NormanStewart]

Casualty list

By the United Press

The War Department today made a new list of three officers and 87 enlisted men killed in the Japanese air raid on Hawaii Sunday.

The list brought to nine officers and 115 enlisted men killed and two wounded, the number thus far announced.

The department said the next of kin had been notified.

Dead:

NAME	AGE	UNIT	HOMETOWN
Pvt. Garland C. Anderson	24	HQ Squadron, 18th Bombardment Wing	Omega, Georgia
Pvt. Manfred C. Anderson	23	HQ Squadron, 18th Bombardment Wing	Houghton, Michigan
Cpl. Robert L. Avery	20	HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	Lincoln, Nebraska
Pvt. Gordon R. Bennett Jr.	21	HQ Squadron, 18th Bombardment Wing	Clio, Michigan
Pfc. Edward F. Bernick			San Francisco, California
Pvt. Arthur F. Boyle	23	22nd Materiel Squadron	Lowell, Massachusetts
Staff Sgt. Billy O. Brandt	24	22nd Materiel Squadron	Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania
Cpl. Harold W. Borgelt	23	7th Air Corps Squadron, Weather	Scribner, Nebraska
Pvt. Robert S. Brown	26	HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	Chatham, Massachusetts
Pvt. William J. Brownlee	19	22nd Materiel Squadron	Corpus Christi, Texas
Pvt. Brooks J. Brubaker Jr.	20	22nd Materiel Squadron	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pvt. Donal V. Chapman	27	HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	Wheeler, Illinois
Pvt. Jack W. Cox			Culver City, California
Pfc. William Coyne Jr.	20	42nd Bombardment Squadron	Kansas City, Kansas
Pvt. Russel C. Defenbaugh	20	19th Transport Squadron	Peoria, Illinois
Cpl. Richard A. Dickerson	22	HQ Squadron, 5th Bombardment Group	El Paso, Texas
Pvt. Joseph R. Drisner	23	HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	East Chicago, Indiana
Tech. Sgt. Daniel A. Dyer Jr.	30	7th Air Corps Squadron, Weather	Beverly, Kansas
Pvt. Lyle O. Edwards	20	HQ Squadron, 18th Bombardment Wing	Leslie, Michigan
Staff Sgt. Harold C. Elyard	28	18th Air Base Squadron	Parsons, West Virginia
Pvt. Malcolm W. Fairchild		Hickam Field	Chicago, Illinois
Pvt. Jack H. Feldman	19	22nd Materiel Squadron	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tech. Sgt. Homer E. Ferris	50	18th Air Base Squadron	Patoka, Indiana
Pvt. Stuart H. Fiander	27	18th Air Base Squadron	North Quincy, Massachusetts
Staff Sgt. George K. Gannam	22	17th Air Base Squadron	Savannah, Georgia
Cpl. Robert R. Garrett	26	42nd Bombardment Squadron	Galesburg, Illinois
2nd Lt. William Grover			Needles, California
Staff Sgt. Elwood R. Gummerson	39	26th Bombardment Squadron	Uniontown, Pennsylvania
Pvt. Albert Hays	25	HQ Squadron, 5th Bombardment Group	Wyaconda, Missouri
Pvt. John P. Holloway		24th Bombardment Squadron	Green Bay, Wisconsin
Pvt. Robert Hull Jr.	19	72nd Pursuit Squadron	Wheeling, West Virginia
Pvt. James R. Johnson	26	22nd Materiel Squadron	Springfield, Illinois
Pvt. Marion E. King Jr.	29	22nd Materiel Squadron	Hunter, Kansas
Pfc. Conrad Kujawa	21	Battery A, 98th Field Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps	Hammond, Indiana
Cpl. Theodore J. Lewis	21	63rd Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pvt. Richard E. Livingston	24	HQ Squadron, 5th Bombardment Group	Westerville, Ohio
Pvt. Howard N. Lusk	25	23rd Bombardment Squadron	Lynwood, California
Pvt. Lawrence P. Lyons Jr.	20	HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	Chelsea, Massachusetts
Pfc. Harrell K. Mattox	21	50th Reconnaissance Squadron	Shawnee, Oklahoma
Pvt. Herbert E. McLaughlin	31	HQ Squadron, 17th Air Base Group	Shawano, Wisconsin
Pfc. William W. Merrithew	28	HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	Onenota, New York
Pfc. Horace A. Messam	22	22nd Materiel Squadron	Barberton, Ohio
Pvt. George A. Moran	25	HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	Somerville, Massachusetts
Pvt. John F. Morris	23		Greensburg, Pennsylvania
2nd Lt. Louis G. Moslener Jr.	23	88th Reconnaissance Squadron (H)	Monaca, Pennsylvania
Pvt. Victor L. Myers			Hendley, Nebraska
Pfc. Charles W. Narehood		42nd Bombardment Squadron	Pine Glen, Pennsylvania
Sgt. Roth J. Narramore		HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	Elmdale, Kansas
Cpl. LaVerne J. Needham	29	HQ Squadron, 18th Bombardment Wing	Walla Walla, Washington
Pvt. William H. Offutt	21	50th Reconnaissance Squadron	Connersville, Indiana
Pvt. Hal H. Perry Jr.	20	42nd Bombardment Squadron	Newellton, Louisiana
Pfc. Thomas F. Philipsky	21	22nd Materiel Squadron	Horicon, Wisconsin
Pfc. Charles P. Porterfield		42nd Bombardment Squadron	North Platte, Nebraska
Pvt. George Price	23	72nd Bombardment Squadron	Lake Arthur, New Mexico
Tech. Sgt. Herman C. Reuss	33	HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	Menominee, Michigan
Cpl. Thomas E. Roberts		HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	Westminster, California
Pfc. Ruperto B. Rodrigues		HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	Del Rio, Texas
1st Lt. William R. Schick	31	38th Reconnaissance Squadron	Chicago, Illinois
Pvt. William F. Shields	24	22nd Materiel Squadron	Bisbee, Arizona
Pvt. Harry E. Smith	19	HQ Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group	Harvey, Illinois
Pfc. Ralph S. Smith	20	22nd Materiel Squadron	Essington, Pennsylvania
Pvt. Elmer W. South	23	18th Air Base Squadron	Indianapolis, Indiana
Pfc. J. B. Sparks	22	22nd Materiel Squadron	Fort Worth, Texas
Pvt. Julian C. Stultz			Zionsville, Indiana
Pfc. Jerome J. Szematowicz	21	22nd Materiel Squadron	Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania
Cpl. Antonio S. Tafoya	25	26th Bombardment Squadron	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Pfc. Anderson G. Tennison	22	HQ Squadron, 18th Bombardment Wing	Canadian, Texas
Pvt. Ernest M. Walker Jr.	20	22nd Materiel Squadron	Shelocta, Pennsylvania
Pvt. James I. Wells			Browder, Kentucky
Pfc. Marlon H. Zaczkiewicz	26	HQ Squadrpn, 11th Bombardment Wing	Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Pvt. Joseph S. Zappala	21	23rd Materiel Squadron	Mattapan, Massachusetts

Two more soldiers added to district’s casualty list

Two more Pittsburgh District soldiers were added today to the growing list of known dead in the Japanese air raid on the Hawaiian Islands Sunday.

They were:

• Pvt. John F. “Jack” Morris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin F. Morris, of Greensburg.
• Pvt. Ernest M. Walker Jr., 20, son of Ernest M. Walker, RDL, Shelocta, Indiana County.

Parents of both men have been notified. Both were in the Air Corps, stationed at Hickam Field.

Pvt. Morris was 23 years old, a graduate of Greensburg High School, and enlisted in the Army Air Corps on November 10, 1939. He was a bombardier.

His parents heard from him Friday last week when he wrote that he had passed examinations to become a Flying Cadet. Besides his parents, young Morris leaves four brothers and two sisters, all of Greensburg.

In Wheeling, West Virginia, today, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hull was notified by the War Department that their son, Robert Jr., had been killed in the raid on Hawaii.

Three others from the district were reported among the casualties yesterday. They were 2nd Lt. Louis G. Moslener Jr. of Monaca, Sgt. Elwood R. Gummerson of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and Pvt. Brooks J. Brubaker Jr. of Altoona.

Sgt. Gummerson was serving his fourth enlistment in the Air Corps and was stationed at Hickam Field. He is survived by his mother, a widow, two sisters and a brother.

The death toll for Western Pennsylvania now stands at eight.

[NormanStewart]

Food supplies of nation high; prices to rise

Rationing unlikely next year with record 1941 crop gathered

WASHINGTON (UP) – There will probably be no rationing of food supplies in the United States at least for another year and then only in the event 1942 crops are short.

Food will cost more – prices are already higher. Officials said “proper measures” are being prepared to prevent profiteering and control speculative trading.

President Roosevelt told the nation Tuesday that there is plenty of food for everyone and enough left over for our allies. The 1941 crop as a whole was the largest on record. Secretary of Agriculture Claude R. Wickard said reserve food supplies are the largest in history and that shipments to Great Britain would be increased and total about $1 billion next year.

Staple foods stored

Farm officials urged consumers to forego hoarding. They expect some shortages of luxuries such as prices, teas and oils customarily imported from the Far East, but promised substitutes for most of them.

Large quantities of staple foods have been stored under the ever-normal granary program and they will not have to be drawn upon during 1942, officials believe.

Here is the situation with respect to principal food items:

WHEAT: The 1941 crop of 961,194,000 bushels was more than 200 million bushels above the 1930-39 average and was one of the largest on record. Including reserves of 350 million bushels, the total supply of 1,311,000,000 bushels is sufficient for two years of domestic consumption.

CORN: The 1941 corn crop of 2,675,000,000 bushels gave the nation a record total supply of approximately 3,200,000,000 bushels.

DAIRY PRODUCTS: Milk production on December 1 averaged eight percent above a year ago and was the highest on record. The production of eggs was at the highest rate on record. Cheese stocks are exceptionally high despite heavy shipments to Britain.

VEGETABLES: Those grown for canning and processing set new high records this year for corn, peas and tomatoes. The total for all principal kinds is more than 20 percent above previous records.

FRUIT: Production at a near record.

MEAT: Supplies are exceptionally large.

SUGAR: Officials are taking every precaution to prevent a shortage such as set prices to 35 cents a pound during the First World War. Supplies on hand are near a record high.

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Hawaii attack kills admiral

Isaac Kidd commanded battleship division

Adm. Kidd

WASHINGTON (UP) – The Navy announced last night that Rear Adm. Isaac Campbell Kidd was killed during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Sunday.

The Navy said he was in command of a battleship division of the Pacific Fleet. It did not disclose the name of his flagship which he was presumably aboard.

Adm. Kidd was born in Cleveland March 26, 1884. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1906. On February 3, 1940, he was assigned as chief of staff and aide to the commander of battleships of the battle force. He held the Cuban Pacification Medal, the Mexican Service Medal and the Victory Medal of the Atlantic Fleet class.

His home was in Washington, D.C.

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Pershing volunteers; Roosevelt accepts

WASHINGTON (UP) – Despite his 81 years, Gen. John J. Pershing today offered to serve his country again in a letter to President Roosevelt, and the president replied that “your services will be of great value.”

The commander of the 1917 AEF wrote:

“All Americans today are united in one ambition – to take whatever share they can in the defense of their country.

“As one among millions, I hasten to offer my services, in any way in which my experience and my strength, to the last ounce, will be of help in the fight.

“Will supreme confidence that, under your calm and determined leadership, we will retain our balance, despite foul blows, I am faithfully yours.”

The president replied:

“You are magnificent. You always have been – and always will be. I am deeply grateful to you for your letter of December 10.

“Under a wise law, you have never been placed on the retired list. You are very much on the active list and your services will be of great value.”

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Audience reaction brings cancellation of ‘Mikado’

WASHINGTON (UP) – The National Theater has cancelled three scheduled performances of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado,” an operetta about the court of a Japanese emperor.

The theater management said that in Baltimore, where the operetta was staged Monday, the audience received the production coolly, particularly the opening line, “We are gentlemen of Japan.”

Capital’s cherry trees become war casualties

WASHINGTON (UP) – The capital’s famed Japanese cherry trees, mecca of tourists from all over the world, were today a casualty of the war in the Far East.

Four were chopped down last night. The vandals attached to one stump a note saying, “To hell with those Japanese.”

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Economists draw outline for long, hard-fought war

Although average American will have to tighten his belt as never before, experts say he will be vastly better off than Axis civilians
By Charles T. Lucey, Scripps-Howard staff writer

WASHINGTON (SHS) – Here’s a blueprint for the battle on the home front, as it is seen by economists and experts who are drawing the broad outlines for a long, hard war:

The average American will have to tighten his belt as never before.

His taxes will be the highest ever, and the government will appeal for more and more of his income to buy bonds for bombers and bullets.

He will work longer hours, but advancing living costs – despite control attempts – may more than offset his paycheck bulge.

He will have plenty of food and clothing – at much higher prices. Living costs are already up 12 percent, with some wholesale advances not yet translated into retail increases.

He and his family will get along without most of the frills and some of the modern “necessities.”

Excess food stored

If he lives within bombing distance of a coast, he will probably give part of his spare time to civilian protection programs.

As Washington is planning it, this is to be everyone’s war.

With all the belt-tightening, your average American will be vastly better off than people in the Axis countries. We go to war with enough cotton in warehouses for a normal year’s consumption; excess wheat for nearly a year, and 600 million bushels of corn. But there must be expansion, and the American farmers are already signing up for it.

The government is planning an increasing of eight billion pounds in milk production, 300 million dozens in egg production, eight million more slaughter hogs, three million more slaughtered cattle, 70 million more chickens. Wheat production – much of the wheat export market has been lost with the war, of course – is to be cut seven and a half million bushels.

In fruit production, which cannot be expanded in a single year’s planting, the emphasis will be on better distribution so that millions of tons of edibles do not rot in fields and orchards. The housewife will be asked to eliminate kitchen waste.

But on civilian supplies that come from the factories, the problem to be met by the average American will be almost the reverse. Piling a war program of $150 billion or more on the industrial structure, the economists agree, means drastic curtailment of civilian production.

Hardly any metal household articles will escape curtailment. And substituting plastics may be difficult for two reasons – plastics will be used increasingly in war goods, and they require chemicals which will be needed for munitions.

Items will be scarce

Scores of small items will be scarce or unobtainable. Interruption of imports from the Pacific may mean less soap, for lack of copra and coconut oil; less cold cream, for lack of cocoa butter; less of many products using glycerin; less camphor and other medicines; less spice from the East Indies; less tea from China.

Already cuts of 50 percent in auto production mean the average citizen will make his car last another year, or maybe three or four; and despite large rubber stockpiles, new tires may be hard to get. The auto owner is likely to have his tires retreaded.

One official said: “It isn’t possible to list everything the average citizen to going to find scarce or is going to have to get along without. But I believe we must be extremely pessimistic about it. We’ve been coasting in both raw materials and manufactured goods.”

Government planners are looking to Latin American possibilities for offsetting shortages in both raw materials and manufactured goods.

Fiscal leaders to meet

Congress turned back a recent bid by Secretary Morgenthau for sharply increased taxes. But that was before Pearl Harbor. Mr. Morgenthau and congressional fiscal leaders take the first step on a conference tomorrow toward deciding what taxes must be levied for next year.

The average citizen, especially in urban areas, will probably go to the volunteer office of the local civilian defense unit to offer his services. He may be an air-raid warden, a firewatcher to guard against incendiary bombs, a member of a rescue, bomb or demolition squad, a guard at a public utility plant, an auxiliary policeman or fireman.

He may become responsible for perhaps 500 persons in the area in which he lives – the man who instructs in proper conduct during air raids, and who knows where the water-heater pilot lights must be turned off during a bombing. He may have the less dramatic task of improving community health, nutrition or recreation.

The average American, say the men planning war on the home front, must get ready for America’s own blood and sweat and tears. No one here doubts that he will.

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Stokes: Here’s how Roosevelt flashed Jap attack on Hawaii

By Thomas L. Stokes, Scripps-Howard staff writer

WASHINGTON – Steve Early was lolling at home, reading the Sunday papers. The telephone rang.

“Steven,” said President Roosevelt, “I have a bulletin here I want to give you to give the newspapers. Got a pencil?”

Steve got one, and slowly took down the message as the calm voice came over the wire:

“The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor from the air and all naval and military activities on the island of Oahu, principal American base in the Hawaiian Islands.”

It was enough to raise the hair even of an ex-newspaperman who covered the last war here and who for more than eight years has sat in the midst of big events at the president’s right hand; but no time to get excited.

Typical Roosevelt touch

Then the calm voice again, after the message had been checked back carefully.

“Have you got any news, Steve?”

The typical Roosevelt touch. Steve smiled.

This little incident tells the whole story of the orderly atmosphere which had prevailed at the White House since the war broke out.

Four days later, everybody at the White House, from the president down, is about caught up on the sleep lost those first two nights. You’d never know a war was on, except for the appearance of many new faces in a greatly increased Secret Service staff about the White House and executive offices, a few more reporters in the Press Room, a new, white sentry box for the enlarged police detail at the only gate which is open now, and the brisk military guards at the entrances of the two streets which flank the White House grounds.

Message in error

Most of the excitement at the White House those first hectic hours was brought in from outside – by the horde of newspapermen who rushed to the center of things. By radio newscasters who, that first night, set up their equipment on spare desks.

For that first flash from Steve Early’s home telephone set them in motion on the double-quick. Before Steve could get dressed and out of the house, the president had called back with another message, about the attack on Manila – which was in error, but only in being premature.

Soon Steve was behind the desk in his office, and there he sat until 1 a.m., only to go home and answer the telephone there all night long, and also the next night. Calls came not only from reporters and officials, but from people far away offering their services.

Reporters come and go

The president, likewise, was on the phone far into that first night, getting reports on developments, after his earlier conferences with State, War and Navy officials, his Cabinet and congressional conferences. He was up early the next morning, and ready for a long day that included his speech to Congress.

The president has been dividing his time between his office in the executive offices and his study in the White House proper, a cozy and homelike room where some of the conferences of the last few days have taken place.

Crises are nothing new for the White House personnel, not even war crises.

Steve Early was a reporter during World War I, covering the State, War and Navy Departments – whose top personnel was in the present State Department building across from the White House. There started his friendship with Franklin D. Roosevelt, assistant secretary of the Navy.

“He’s moved 100 yards in 28 years,” Steve remarked today.

Secretary sees 3 wars

William D. Hassett, Steve’s assistant today, was covering Congress as a newspaperman during the last war. Marvin McIntyre, another of the president’s secretaries, was also a newspaperman here during World War I.

Maj. Gen. Edwin M. Watson, another secretary, was overseas during the last war with the 12th Field Artillery in the second division, and fought in all of that famous outfit’s engagements.

Rudolph Forster, executive clerk at the White House since March 1897, has seen three wars from the mansion. He goes about his business these days with perfect equanimity.

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Martial law is proclaimed in Honolulu

Military rule for Hawaii is running smoothly, Army reports
By Frank Tremaine, United Press staff writer

The following is the first dispatch received by the United Press from Honolulu since late Sunday.

HONOLULU, Hawaii (Dec. 10, 12:10 p.m.) – Martial law has been proclaimed for the Territory of Hawaii with the full approval of President Roosevelt.

It is reported to be functioning smoothly and the method of operation and results to date have been reported directly to the president.

An Army announcement today said the military government of Hawaii is functioning well according to plan. The population of the territory (which includes many thousands of Japanese) is generally cooperating with the military authorities and is well behaved.

No attacks against the islands have been reported since Sunday.

A blackout was enforced throughout the islands last night and was intended to safeguard civilians as well as military installations, according to an official statement.

Results of the blackout were described as “impressive.”

There have been few cases of non-cooperation (on the part of the civilian population) and these have been “severely dealt with,” military authorities said.

A provost court, presided over by Judge James L. Coke, has been established and has disposed of 15 cases. Fifteen more cases are under investigation. Two persons who failed to obey the blackout regulations were fined $10 each. Two other cases, described as more flagrant, were also disposed of and the persons convicted were fined $100 each and sentenced to 100 days at hard labor as enemies of the territory. The sentences to hard labor were suspended but the fines stood.

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Roosevelt approves Honolulu evacuation

WASHINGTON (UP) – President Roosevelt has approved a plan for the emergency evacuation of 60,000 civilians from Honolulu City, Delegate Samuel W. King, Hawaii’s representative in Congress, disclosed today.

Mr. King emphasized the plan does not contemplate immediate evacuation, but will provide facilities for an exodus if sea or air attack again threaten the island fortress. Although civilian casualties from Sunday’s air blitzkrieg were comparatively small, Mr. King said tremendous carnage was possible if the Japanese should launch an all-out attack against civilian centers.

Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, as assistant director of Civilian Defense, sent a message today to the people of Hawaii, praising their courage.

[NormanStewart]

Hitler, Il Duce go to Japs’ aid

They blame whole thing on United States

Berlin, Germany (UP) – (German radio recorded in New York)
Germany and her Axis partner, Italy, today declared war in the United States.

Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop made the formal declaration on behalf of Germany at noon CET (5:00 a.m. EST) in a note handed to the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Berlin.

Adolf Hitler in a speech before the Nazi Reichstag announced that:

I today gave the order that the passports shall be given to the American Ambassador in Berlin.

Germany and Italy, Hitler told the Reichstag, are honoring their obligations under the tri-power military alliance and coming to the aid of Japan “in the struggle forced upon her.”

The association of Germany, Italy and Japan, proclaimed the Führer, will last “at least as long as the war lasts.”

Simultaneously, Premier Benito Mussolini appeared on the balcony of Venice Palace in Rome and announced to the throngs in the square below that the Axis partners have gone to war against the United States.

Germany, Hitler assured his audience, has the power and foresight to take all necessary measures for the world conflict.

He said:

We will always strike first. We will always deal the first blow.

Germany, Italy and Japan, he revealed, have bound themselves in a formal alliance of four articles. They agree:

• To carry on to final victory the war against Britain and the United States with “every conceivable means.”

• Not to conclude a separate peace or armistice.

• To continue the closest collaboration and to establish a new and lasting order along the lines of the Tripartite Agreement.

• To effectuate the pact immediately.

Hitler said:

After peace has been won, the three countries will proceed in close collaboration to guarantee a lasting peace.

Assails Roosevelt

President Roosevelt, charged the Führer, has done “everything in his power” to prevent Germany and Italy from securing their right of existence.

He shouted:

Our patience has come to the straining point. We had always tried to prevent a break with the United States.

But now, Italy and Germany, in loyal fulfillment of their obligations under the Axis agreement, associate themselves with Japan in the struggle against America and Britain.

Never before, said Hitler, has Germany been so united.

He declared:

No one will vanquish Germany. No one will destroy German unity. Germany is strong. Let us thank God that we can enter our names in the history of the Reich.

Singing solemn, sad

As Hitler concluded speaking at 4:33 p.m. (9:33 a.m. EST) after making his war declaration four minutes earlier, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring rose and said:

God bless our Führer. God bless our Reich.

The Reichstag, assembled in the Kroll Opera House, rose and sang “Deutschland über alles” and the Nazi Horst Wessel song.

The United Press listening post reported that the singing was solemn and sounded sad. The listening post believed that the German broadcast may not have been made direct from radio microphones but from a recording of Hitler’s speech. They reported that a Nazi announcer interrupted repeatedly to give an English translation – a practice never before employed. Hitler spoke in a low, emotionless voice until he neared the end of his address when his voice rose to the familiar shrillness.

Hitler led up to his declaration against the United States with a lengthy attack upon President Roosevelt and his allegedly anti-German policy. He listed a long series of American attacks against Germany. His listeners cheered and laughed at his occasional bursts of satire. Once, the broadcast was interrupted by a chorus of “pfui” from the Reichstag members.

Admits Libyan defeat

Hitler made these points:

• That Britain and the United States have “flagrantly violated” international law.

• That the United States “plans to take over the British Empire in the hour of its collapse as safely and with as little danger as possible.”

• That the Axis has suffered a temporary defeat in Libya due to British superiority in heavy tanks.

• That only winter has halted the Nazi attack on Russia and that it will be resumed but not before next summer.

• That the United States was preparing plans for an attack upon Germany in 1943.

Hitler said:

A year of historical events is ending. A year of the greatest decisions is coming. If Providence has decided that a struggle shall occur, I am thankful that I have been elected to lead this struggle which will decide our future for 500 or 1,000 years.

Calls nation secure

He claimed Germany now stands secure behind a series of fortresses, air bases and naval bases which have been built from the Kirkenes in far northern Norway to the frontiers of Spain.

He said:

It is my unshakeable determination to make this European front unassailable and impregnable.

Wants to ‘save’ Europe

He charged that America’s threat to Europe stems from “an inheritance of Jewish and Negro spirit.”

He said:

Fighting was unavoidable. Germany is the chief champion of this fight. The Germans are in the struggle to save the interests of the whole of Europe.

Hitler said that “a blind man” could have seen that Russia was preparing to challenge Germany and that Soviet intentions became clear after Joseph Stalin instigated the coup d’état in Yugoslavia which precipitated Germany’s campaign in the Balkans.

He said:

We will always strike first. We will always deal the first blow as we did with Russia.

Charges conspiracy

Hitler again claimed that Britain and Russia secretly conspired to attack Germany. He claimed that Russia planned to attack Germany in the summer of 1941 after which Britain would take the offensive. He said that these intentions were revealed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill at a secret session of the British Parliament.

Hitler said that if Finland had not joined with Germany, “her own existence and that of the other Scandinavian states would rapidly have come to an end.”

Hitler claimed that Germany held 3,806,000 Russian prisoners up to Nov. 28.

He placed German casualties in Russia up to Dec. 1 at 573,415 killed, wounded and missing, He listed them as: 162,314 killed, 377,767 wounded, 33,334 missing.

Every step forward in Russia, he said, had been fought for – against Russian resistance, against Russian heat, Russian mud, Russian cold.

No ill will toward U.S.

Germany, Hitler insisted, never had any ill will toward the United States. Germany had no colonies or claims in North America; had never interfered in American affairs; had aided the United States in winning its war of independence; had never participated in any war against the United States.

He said the United States went to war against the Reich in 1917 for “reasons wholly spurious.”

He said differences of government between the two countries were not sufficient as a cause for bad feeling.

He said:

There are two persons responsible for relations between the United States and Germany. They are Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Wilson broke a pledge to Germany.

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Mussolini announces war declaration

Rome, Italy (UP) – (via Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Italy declared war on the United States today when Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano summoned U.S. Chargé d’Affaires George Wadsworth to the Foreign Office and handed him his passports.

Ciano said in a communication to Wadsworth:

His Majesty, the King-Emperor of Italy, declares that Italy considers herself in a state of war with the United States of America from today.

Italy’s war declaration was proclaimed by Premier Benito Mussolini in a speech before a vast assemblage of cheering Italians from the balcony of Venice Palace.

Mussolini said that “one man alone” is responsible for “this new war because by his continued provocations he has prepared for war day by day with diabolic persistence.”

The reference was presumably to President Roosevelt.

Promises victory

He added:

Italian men and women will be worthy of this great hour.

He said:

Fascist Italy and Nationalist Socialist Germany, ever closely linked, participate from today on the side of heroic Japan against the United States of America.

We shall win.

Mussolini continued:

This is a great day in the history of the continent of Europe.

Italy and her ally Germany together with Japan enter the war against the United States.

One hundred and fifty million men are resolute to do everything to reach final victory.

We shall wage war in order to conquer.

After an infinite series of provocations, the Japanese have struck in the Pacific and have achieved great victories.

It is a privilege to fight at their sides.

The Tripartite Pact [the German-Italian-Japanese alliance, now brought into active force] is a sure guarantee of victory and a powerful instrument for a just peace for the nations.

The approximately 100,000 persons who crowded the Venice Square and overflowed into nearby streets called Mussolini back to the balcony nine times to acknowledge their cheers.

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All U.S. reporters in Berlin arrested

Berlin, Germany – (German broadcast recorded by United Press)
All American newspaper and press association correspondents in Berlin were arrested at midnight, in retaliation for the arrest of German correspondents in the United States.

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U.S. ship docks safely after 3 days on Pacific

San Francisco, California (UP) –
The SS Lurline, caught between Honolulu and San Francisco when the Japanese attack began, arrived here yesterday with 500 passengers after a three-day zigzag run to safety.

The Lurline was 1,000 miles from Honolulu when ship’s officers learned of the outbreak of war. Most of the passengers refused to believe the news until the ship was blacked out, portholes were painted blue and all passenger radios were confiscated.

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Radio advised to be careful

Avoid ‘horror and undue excitement,’ it is told

Washington (UP) –
President Neville Miller of the National Association of Broadcasters advised radio stations today to use “unusually careful editorial judgment” in selecting war news.

Mr. Miller said it was equally important that announcers and newscasters report war news “calmly, slowly and deliberately, so as to avoid horror, suspense and undue excitement.”

He agreed with the War Department that definite periods should be established for handling of war news “except for news of transcendent importance.”

Chairman James Lawrence Fly of the FCC, meanwhile, assured the radio industry that their facilities generally would remain in private hands. He said censorship was not being undertaken.

An order signed by President Roosevelt yesterday gives the Defense Communications Board authority to designate radio facilities for the “use, control, inspection or closure” by the War or Navy Department or other government agency. It was explained that the order mainly affected stations used for point-to-point broadcasting of messages which could be used to augment the communication facilities of the Army and Navy.

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White House statement on a conference on wartime labor policy
December 11, 1941

The President today issued invitations for a conference to be held between industry and labor to consider the problem of labor disputes during the war.

The President invited the Presidents of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations each to designate six representatives from different unions affiliated with their organizations. He also invited the Chairman of the Business Advisory Council of the Department of Commerce to choose, after appropriate consultation, twelve representatives of industrial management. He will later appoint someone to serve as Moderator and Associate Moderator.

The conference will be held at Washington and will commence during the early part of the week of December 15.

The first and essential objective of the conference will be to reach a unanimous agreement to prevent the interruption of production by labor disputes during the period of the war. It is not expected that there will be any hesitation on the part of either labor or industry to accept this basic condition of the nation’s safety.

The conferees doubtless will find it necessary to agree upon machinery by which these disputes may amicably and finally be settled. It is thought this machinery might include appropriate procedures for adjusting disputes, for mediation, and for resort in defense industries to some tribunal whose decisions will be binding by agreement on all parties. But it is for the conferees to decide what form the machinery shall take so long only as an agreement is reached. Since the efficacy of that agreement will depend upon the voluntary cooperation of all concerned, emphasis is placed on the fact that it must represent a unanimous accord.

The agreement, it is pointed out, might include or be followed by an agreement defining appropriate practices for both labor and management to secure maximum production for war needs. In view of the gravity of the emergency now confronting this country, the President urges that the conferees reach a conclusion, at least upon the primary agreement preventing interruptions to production, and report to him within a very few days after convening.

[NormanStewart]

Völkischer Beobachter (December 12, 1941)

Das Reich und Italien an Japans Seite –
Kriegszustand mit USA

Leidenschaftliches Bekenntnis des Führers: „Gemeinsamer Kampf mit allen Mitteln bis zum Endsieg“

In einer Stunde weltgeschichtlicher Entscheidungen sprach der Führer zum deutschen Volk und zur Welt. Während im Pazifik seit vier Tagen die Waffen Japans dem Kriegsbrandstifter Roosevelt die einzig mögliche Antwort geben, versammelten sich am Donnerstag im Reichstag die Abgesandten des deutschen Volkes, um eine Erklärung der Reichsregierung entgegenzunehmen. Sie ist so ausgefallen, wie sie dem Wesen, der Ehrauffassung und der Mission des deutschen Volkes entspricht: Das Reich und Italien treten mit ihren gesamten Machtmitteln an die Seite Japans, um Roosevelts und Churchills Weltbrand zu ersticken. Die Waffen werden erst ruhen, wenn der Endsieg erfochten ist.

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Zweiweltenkampf

Die angekündigte und nicht nur vom deutschen Volk, sondern von der ganzen Welt mit größter Spannung erwartete Regierungserklärung im Deutschen Reichstag wurde durch die große Führerrede zu einer geschichtlichen Kundgebung von einmaliger Größe. Nachdem im Pazifik die von der plutokratischen Herrschsucht und Überheblichkeit in die Enge getriebene und gepeinigte tapfere japanische Nation in kühnem Entschluß Roosevelt die einzig mögliche Antwort mit scharfen Waffen erteilt und den Schleier der pazifistischen Heuchelei des Hauptkriegsschuldigen zerrissen hatte, ging offenbar der Kampf zwischen zwei Welten seinem Höhepunkt entgegen.

Der Führer hat ihn in seiner großen Rede vor den Männern des Deutschen Reichstages bis in seine letzten jüdischen Wurzeln hinein allseitig und mit erschütternder Eindringlichkeit aufgezeichnet. Er stellte seinen Lebensweg und sein Werk als das eines schlichten und ehrbaren Arbeiters und Soldaten symbolhaft gegen den Werdegang dieses typischen Plutokratensohnes und Schiebers Roosevelt, der die Welt und die Völkerschicksale nur unter dem Gesichtspunkt des Geldverdienens kennt. Wie noch nie zuvor sprach der Führer im Namen Europas und bekannte sich zu seiner alten stolzen Kultur und zu der Ehrauffassung seiner Völker. Er zeichnete ein leuchtendes Bild von den opfervollen und kühnen Leistungen des deutschen Heeres und seiner Verbündeten im Ostfeldzuge, wo sie die alles zu verschlingen drohende Gefahr des jüdischen Bolschewismus siegreich gebannt haben.

Mit großem Jubel nahmen die Männer des Deutschen Reichstages die Meldung des Führers auf, daß soeben in Berlin zwischen den drei Mächten Deutschland, Japan und Italien ein Abkommen getroffen wurde, in dem ihre verschworene Kampfgemeinschaft gegen den jüdisch-plutokratisch-bolschewistischen Weltfeind zum Ausdruck kommt. Er zeichnete in großen Linien und mit einer glühenden Leidenschaft diesen Zweiweltenkampf, den die nationalsozialistische Revolution in 16jährigem Kampf schon im Innern Deutschlands gegen den gleichen Feind siegreich bestehen konnte. Die Vorsehung habe diesen Kampf bisher in sichtbarer Weise gesegnet, und wir haben allen Grund, zu glauben, daß sie ihn auch jetzt, nachdem er auf dem weltweiten Höhepunkt angekommen ist, weiterhin segnen wird.

Die deutsche Nation ist in dieser geschichtlichen Stunde sich der Größe ihres geschichtlichen Auftrages voll bewußt. Wie ein granitener Block steht sie Schulter an Schulter in Front und Heimat geschlossen in diesem größten und ehrenvollsten Kampf ihrer Geschichte. Noch nie war ihr die Notwendigkeit ihres Kampfes klarer Und noch nie ihre Entschlossenheit, Opferfreude und Gläubigkeit so groß wie heute.

Der Kriegszustand mit Roosevelts plutokratischer Weltdiktatur ist nur die äußere Bestätigung einer schon längst tatsächlich von der Gegenseite systematisch herbeigeführten Lage. Er wirkt auf das deutsche Volk wie eine Befreiung von einer unerträglichen Belastung. Herr Roosevelt hat nun seinen Krieg! Mag er sehen, wie er damit zurechtkommt!

K. N.

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81 US-Flugzeuge über Manila vernichtet –
Flugzeugträger Lexington versenkt

dnb. Tokio, 11. Dezember –
Die Marineabteilung des Kaiserlichen Hauptquartiers gibt bekannt, daß die japanische Luftwaffe am 10. Dezember auf nordamerikanische Armeestreitkräfte auf den Philippinen einen großen Angriff durchgeführt hat. Bei einem Luftkampf über Manila wurden 45 feindliche Flugzeuge abgeschossen. 36 feindliche Flugzeuge wurden am Boden zerstört. Bei Hawai wurden ein US-Zerstörer, ein U-Boot und ein weiteres Spezialschiff durch direkte Treffer vernichtet. Der japanische Generalstab gab außerdem bekannt, daß der 33.000 Tonnen große nordamerikanische Flugzeugträger Lexington, über den wir bereits in unserer gestrigen Ausgabe berichteten, in den Kämpfen um Hawai versenkt worden ist.

Die Lexington ist ein Schwesterschiff der Saratoga. Beide Flugzeugträger sind die größten, die die Vereinigten Staaten besitzen. Sie können 90 Flugzeuge befördern. Sie sind bewaffnet mit acht 20,3-Zentimeter-Geschützen, zwölf 12,7-Zentimeter-Flakgeschützen, vier 5,7- und acht 4-Zentimeter Flakgeschützen. Beide Flugzeugträger sind im Jahre 1925 vom Stapel gelaufen und 1926 in Dienst gestellt. Die Besatzung beträgt 1.400 Mann.

Luftabwehr erfolglos

Aus Manila hier eingetroffene Berichte bestätigen im Übrigen die Wirksamkeit der japanischen Bombenangriffe und die Erfolglosigkeit der philippinischen Luftabwehr, wobei die Tatsache ausdrücklich betont wird, daß lediglich militärische Anlagen das Ziel der japanischen Luftangriffe waren. Das Hauptziel der japanischen Luftangriffe sei Cavite, der Flugplatz Nicholsfield, der Nilson-Flugplatz, das Fort McKinley und das Fort William gewesen. Auf die Stadt Manila seien keine Bomben abgeworfen worden.

Die japanischen Flugzeuge flogen, wie weiter berichtet wird, in geordneter Formation teilweise in großer Höhe unbekümmert um die Flugabwehr zurück, deren Geschosse zwar den Himmel mit kleinen Wolken punktierten, jedoch viel zu kurz lagen. Die Fliegerabwehr wurde stark behindert einerseits durch das grelle Sonnenlicht, andererseits durch die riesigen Rauchwolken, die die Ziele der japanischen Bomben umlagerten. Jeder der vier Angriffe wurde in mehreren Wellen durchgeführt. Die Angriffe galten vor allen Dingen dem USA-Stützpunkt Cavite, wo Augenzeugen die gewaltige Wirkung von mehreren hundert Bomben beobachtet haben. Die dortigen Öllager wurden offensichtlich in Brand geworfen. Auch die in der Bucht von Manila liegenden Schiffe wurden mehrmals mit gutem Erfolg angegriffen. Die nordamerikanischen Flugzeuge waren außerstande, die japanischen Flugzeuge vor Ende des Bombenangriffs zu erreichen, nur einmal wurde ein Luftkampf beobachtet.

Die japanische Landoffensive auf der größten philippinischen Insel Luzon ist amerikanischen Rundfunkberichten zufolge in vollem Gange. Die Japaner, die ursprünglich am Nordende von Luzon, bei Aparri, zur Landung ansetzten, konnten weitere Truppen landen und beherrschen zurzeit fast das gesamte Nordende der Insel sowie das zwischen San Fernando und Vigan gelegene Gebiet an der Westküste Luzons. Die japanischen Landungen erfolgten in einer Küstenausdehnung von etwa 250 Kilometer.

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U.S. State Department (December 12, 1941)

859B.01/388

The Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the American Legation in Denmark

PJIA Journal Nr. 84 B.2.a.
Copenhagen, December 12, 1941

Note Verbale

The American Chargé d’Affaires in Copenhagen has been good enough to leave with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs a copy of the note which the State Department in Washington recently transmitted to the former Danish Minister there, M. Kauffmann, concerning his status and authority particularly with regard to Greenland.

The Royal Danish Government has taken notice of this document with the greatest anxiety as it appears to indicate that M. Kauffmann has now obtained recognition in relation to the United States of America as an organ competing with the lawful Danish Government having been invested with all the Danish Government’s authority with regard to Greenland and Danish property in the United States of America and in Greenland.

This is the regrettable result of a development in which M. Kauffmann himself appears to have been the impelling force; for according to the information available here, there is nothing to indicate that the Government of the United States of America would itself have taken the initiative to bring about the status which M. Kauffmann has gradually succeeded in obtaining, if he himself on April 9, 1940, had loyally followed the lawful Danish Government like Denmark’s other Ministers in foreign countries.

M. Kauffmann has achieved this status after an usurpation in explanation of which he merely states that the Danish Government is acting under duress as a result of the occupation and that it is therefore incompetent. In this respect, however, he has evidently acted as early as on April 9, 1940, in the expectation of developments in Denmark under the occupation of an entirely different nature to those which actually ensued. His attitude is based on illogical reasoning; Denmark is certainly under the occupation of German troops, but this does not prevent the lawful Danish Government, which is composed of representatives of all the great political parties from directing all affairs in the country. In all essential respects, Danish social life is continued normally, the powers of State – legislative, judiciary and executive – carrying on their functions independently and without interference from the occupying power.

M. Kauffmann was Denmark’s Minister in Washington and had no function beyond that. A diplomatic agent cannot be or become anything different or more than what his Government has entrusted him to be, and neither under international law nor under Danish constitutional law can he acquire any independent political authority without a special mandate. The Danish people is represented by its King, Government and Parliament, and how can the authority of these lawful instances with any justification be transferred to a chance diplomatic agent by a mere act of usurpation?

To the extent to which M. Kauffmann is in a position to act on the basis of his being recognized by the Government of the United States of America the anomalous situation is now in fact established that there are so to speak two Danish “Governments,” one being the lawful Government appointed by the King, recognized by the people, and domiciled in Denmark, at which foreign powers (including the United States of America) maintain legations, the other being the “Kauffmann usurper Government” which on the basis of certain ideas of duress and negotiorum gestio has obtained the authority which the lawful Government in Copenhagen would normally be able to exercise through its (law-abiding) Minister in Washington.

It should be remembered that the position of Denmark is quite different to that of States whose Governments after the failure of their resistance against German military power have left their country and established themselves abroad. In Denmark, the King and Government remained in the country on April 9, 1940, and resolved by constitutional means “to direct the affairs of the country in view of the occupation which has taken place”. From the outset, the King and Government have thus had and still have the direction of all the affairs of the country, and the conditions, as far as Denmark is concerned, for establishing anything analogous with the exile Governments of the aforesaid countries are therefore entirely missing.

M. Kauffmann has undoubtedly himself felt the weakness of having no mandate from the people whose interests he claims to defend. He has therefore endeavoured to obtain the adherence of Danes living abroad, but even if this adherence may be felt as a moral support by M. Kauffmann personally, it is evident that it is of no significance from the point of view of constitutional law; for how can the attribution to M. Kauffmann of Government authority, the exercise of which presupposes all the elements which according to universally-recognized opinion enters into the conception of a State, be based on the mere presence of a strictly limited number of partisans or adherents? These adherents are, moreover, largely persons who have acquired another nationality and who are not only under a formal obligation to their new country, but may also be presumed to share the sympathies prevalent there.

The fact that M. Kauffmann has felt the weakness of acting without any mandate from the King of Denmark appears clearly from the surreptitious inclusion, on his initiative, in the preamble of the so-called Greenland Agreement of April 9, 1941, of a passage to the effect that he acted “on behalf of His Majesty the King of Denmark in His quality of Sovereign over Greenland.” This passage was inserted by M. Kauffmann not only without the existence of any trace of authorization, but even directly against his better knowledge of being guilty of an abuse of the King’s name. By this action it became clear that M. Kauffmann from the occupation of Denmark on April 9, 1940, had adopted an attitude directly contrary to the policy laid down by the King and Government.

M. Kauffmann having no other authority than that which he had received from the State Department, it was a fiction to speak of “negotiations” in connection with the conclusion of the Greenland Agreement. Article 10 in particular of the Agreement concerning its duration has evidently been drafted in such a way that the Government of the United States of America will be in a position unilaterally to decide, and therefore indefinitely postpone, the date of an eventual conference for the amendment or termination of the Agreement.

The Agreement having thus been concluded without the participation of the Danish Government it has been a reassurance to this Government to receive – directly irrespective of the Agreement – the promise of the American Government that Greenland will be restored, but the fact that Denmark has to see its policy and its interests, insofar as the United States of America and Greenland are concerned, placed in the hands of a man whose only title is based on his own act of usurpation, fills the Danish Government with profound anxiety as to future developments.

The Danish Government fails to understand that the American Government, in spite of all that has taken place, not only does not refuse its recognition of M. Kauffmann but even considerably extends that recognition.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs requests the American Chargé d’Affaires in Copenhagen to communicate the above to the State Department in Washington.

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851.33/206: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France

Washington, December 12, 1941 — 2 p.m.
914

Your 1523, December 11, 7 p.m.

We have noted the statement made by Admiral Darlan to you to the effect that with regard to naval ships in French colonial ports in the Western Hemisphere the Admiral stated that they have no intention of leaving port and that they are disarmed.

You should see Marshal Pétain or Admiral Darlan immediately and say that your Government has taken note of this statement and that in view of the fact that the United States is at war, all necessary measures must accordingly be taken by this Government, particularly in the defense areas off our shores and in the Caribbean region. This Government will undertake to safeguard the French colonial possessions in this area as part of our general defense operations. Because of the necessity of carrying out our defense plans, we cannot permit the movement of other than American or associated naval or air units operating in these areas. We must, therefore, request, as an evidence of the friendly attitude of France toward this country, that the measures of disarmament of naval or air units, which are now being undertaken by the French Government with respect to any ships or aircraft now stationed in the Caribbean or French colonial territories, be carried out to an extent satisfactory to the United States. In order to insure this degree of demobilization of naval or air units, we request that American naval survey parties be permitted to inspect the state of disarmament and immobilization which has been or is to be carried out with respect to the naval units and aviation units in these areas. Inspection parties have already been organized and are ready to proceed and we request that the French authorities in the Antilles and French Guiana be duly informed and authorized to grant the necessary facilities to the American inspection parties.

HULL

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740.0011 Pacific War/1075a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom

Washington, December 12, 1941 — 5 p.m.
5842 

The Thai Minister here received this morning a telegram from the Thai Foreign Minister at Bangkok, stating that Thailand and Japan had entered into an offensive and defensive alliance. It is understood that the Thai Minister here is today making public a repudiation on his own responsibility of the above-mentioned alliance. Yesterday, the Minister stated to the press that he intended to work for the re-establishment of an independent Thailand.

You may wish to communicate the above to the British Foreign Office and, in your discretion, to your Thai colleague.

Further developments will be telegraphed to you.

HULL

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851.85/384a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France

Washington, December 12, 1941 — 11 p.m.
920

The following press release is being issued today:

As a measure of necessary protection to the crews and vessels, arrangements have been made to remove the French crews of all French vessels now in United States ports. This action does not preclude return of the crews to any vessel the resumption of service of which may be determined.

It has been explained to the French Embassy that this measure was determined as necessary for the safety not only of the ships but of the crews themselves and that it does not apply to any of the vessels which may be engaged in supply service to the French West Indies. It was further pointed out that should the North African service be resumed, the crews of the Leopold L. D. and the Île de Ré could promptly be returned to that vessel.

You may wish to convey the foregoing promptly to the French Foreign Office.

HULL

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851.33/211: Telegram

The Ambassador in France to the Secretary of State

Vichy, December 12, 1941 — 11 p.m.
[Received December 13 — 11:30 a.m.]

1531

My 1523, December 11, 7 p.m.

We called on Rochat this evening who officially delivered to us three memoranda containing the replies to the question[s] I delivered yesterday [to] Marshal Pétain in the form of three memoranda. He said that:

The Marshal has been happy to give you complete satisfaction and assurances on all the questions which you raised.

The following is a translation of the first memorandum dealing with the points raised in Department’s 898, December 6, 4 p.m.:

Referring to the note handed by Admiral Leahy to Marshal Pétain and Admiral Darlan on December 11, the French Government renews the assurances that the French Fleet will not be utilized against Great Britain except in the case of hostile action on her part and that French territory will not be used as a base for operations by German Armed Forces.

It also renews the assurance that the departure of General Weygand did not entail any change in the political position of France in North Africa or any modification of the status governing these territories.

On the other hand, it confirms the agreement concluded on March 10 between the Embassy of the United States at Vichy and the French Government on the basis of the memorandum drawn up following the conversation of February 26, 1941, between General Weygand and Mr. Murphy.

It hopes that the renewal of these assurances will cause the American Government to resume the program of supply for North Africa. It would be happy to receive confirmation thereof.

After handing us these notes, Rochat said that he was particularly glad that we had brought up the possibility of continuing our economic assistance to North Africa at this time. While he understands that as a result of our entry into war the possibility of our giving economic assistance to North Africa, as originally envisaged, may have to undergo drastic change, he said that the continuation of our economic assistance to North Africa will strengthen at the present time France’s hand in resisting German demands there. He went on to say that if we resume sending supplies to North Africa, the French will be in a position to argue with the Germans that any additional material concessions to them insofar as North Africa is concerned will lead to the discontinuation of our program and will create “a serious situation very disadvantageous to the Germans insofar as North Africa is concerned.”

We asked him whether he really believed the French Government could resist a German demand or ultimatum for the withdrawal of code privileges and the departure of our consulates from North Africa. He replied with embarrassment that he could not answer this question. He went on to say that France would resist German demands in this regard with every possible argument but only the future can tell what the final decision will be. He stated that up to the present time no demands have been received from the Germans insofar as this mission or any of our consulates are concerned.

Repeated to Algiers for Murphy.

LEAHY

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851.33/211: Telegram

The Ambassador in France to the Secretary of State

Vichy, December 12, 1941 — 11 p.m.
[Received December 13 — 11:30 a.m.]

1531

My 1523, December 11, 7 p.m.

We called on Rochat this evening who officially delivered to us three memoranda containing the replies to the question[s] I delivered yesterday [to] Marshal Pétain in the form of three memoranda. He said that:

The Marshal has been happy to give you complete satisfaction and assurances on all the questions which you raised.

The second memorandum dealing with the question of the carrier Béarn and other naval vessels reads as follows:

The President of the United States has asked the Marshal to issue orders to Admiral Robert not to allow the departure of any French naval ship from Martinique or from any other port in the Western Hemisphere.

The French Government has the honor to inform the Government of the United States that it is sending the said order. These instructions, moreover, are but a confirmation of those which were sent last year to Admiral Robert following the agreement reached between the two Governments in order to maintain the status quo of French possessions in the Western Hemisphere. The French Government does not doubt that the American Government continues to give, under present circumstances, its full value to this agreement. It would be happy to receive confirmation thereof.

The third memorandum states that:

As a result of the declaration of war by Germany and Italy against the United States, the French Government intends to maintain an attitude of neutrality during this conflict.

LEAHY

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Press Release

December 12, 1941

An exchange of telegrams between the President of the United States and the President of the Philippine Commonwealth follows:

December 9, 1941

I have just arrived from Baguio the summer capital of the Philippines where I was when the war between the United States and Japan was declared. I have covered the country by automobile and I am happy to report that everywhere the people are loyal to America and determined to stand by her in testimony of their gratitude to you, to the Government of the United States and to the American people and because of their devotion to the cause of Democracy and freedom. I am proud therefore that the reiterated assurance I have given to you: to the effect that you can count upon us was no empty word.

MANUEL L. QUEZON

December 11, 1941

Your renewed assurances of the devotion and loyalty of the Philippine people to the United States and to democracy are particularly appreciated in this grave hour. The hearts of all Americans are deeply touched by the fortitude and gallantry being shown by your people in this present ordeal. We are at one with you in our faith in the ultimate triumph of our common ideals.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

[NormanStewart]

U.S. Navy Department (December 12, 1941)

Communiqué No. 4

Naval forces continue to coordinate their efforts with the Army on land, sea and in the air against heavy Japanese attacks on the island of Luzon. There is no confirmation of the alleged occupation of Guam by the Japanese. The resistance of Wake and Midway continues. No further air activity over Hawaii has been reported. The situation in the Atlantic remains unchanged.

The above is based on reports up to noon today.

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The Pittsburgh Press (December 12, 1941)

WAR DEPARTMENT OFFERS 18-64 DRAFT BILL
Women ‘deferred;’ full survey of manpower in U.S. asked

Only those from 19 to 45 face actual call, Rayburn says

Washington (UP) –
The War Department today presented to Congress legislation that would require all men in the United States between the ages of 18 to 64, inclusive, to register with the Selective Service System.

Only those from 19 to 45, Speaker Sam Rayburn said, will be liable for military service.

The broad registration will be for the purpose of getting an accurate survey of American manpower.

Chairman Andrew J. May (D-KY) of the House Military Affairs Committee introduced the War Department’s legislation shortly after the House convened at noon.

Reviewed at conference

The legislation was reviewed in a conference at Mr. Rayburn’s office also attended by Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson; Selective Service Director Lewis B. Hershey; House Majority Leader John W. McCormack (D-MA); Rep. James Wadsworth (R-NY), co-sponsor of the original Selective Service Act; Rep. Walter G. Andrews (R-NY), ranking minority member of the Military Affairs Committee, and War Department and Selective Service aides.

Men who have already registered will not be required to do so again.

The new registration will take in all unregistered men who have reached the age of 18 and have not reached the age of 65.

New registrants may be called up for military service ahead of those who were entered in the past two registrations.

The bill provided that alien residents of the United States holding citizenship in neutral nations may apply for exemption for registration for military service under the American flag but if they do, they are forever barred from becoming citizens of this nation.

Mr. May announced that hearings in the bill will start tomorrow and that Gen. Hershey will be the first witness.

Selective Service officials said they had no intention at this time of seeking authority to register women.

Mr. May said his bill will not change the existing system of classifying Selective Service registrants.

Mr. Hershey disclosed that a proposal was now under consideration to establish some sort of government support if married men and other with dependents, who are now deferred, were found to be needed.

Million already available

Mr. Hershey told the conferees that an additional million men can probably be combed out of present registrants between 21 and 27 and that 1,200,000 men reach the age of military service annually.

He said:

We may need a lot of men and we’ve got to find out now where we can get them.

Gen. Hershey told reporters yesterday that he favored a long-range registration of the 40 million men between 18 and 64 years. He estimated that 10 million could be made available to the Army and Navy for actual service. Registration of women, he said, would be handled by such agencies as the Office for Civilian Defense.

The first phase of the program probably will be to draw upon the 17,500,000 men in the already registered 21-35 age group. Only about 800,000 inductions have been made to this class, but Gen. Hershey believes this could be increased to four million men.

Immediate reclassification of the 10 million registrants in the 21-27 age bracket is possible and legislative action may be sought to make available the 7,500,000 men in the 28-35 age group.

Gen. Hershey suggested that lowering selection standards in the 21-27 group would yield more than a million men to the current million in Class 1-A, and that “fully a million able-bodied men” might be obtained from the 28-35 group, now exempted.

The Army is expected to notify Selective Service headquarters at once of its needs for January and February quotas. They have been averaging about 65,000 per month recently. Gen. Hershey indicated that they would be “doubled or tripled.”

That might mean that 500,000 men would be called to the colors during the next two months.

Loopholes sought

Authorities are seeking to close loopholes on occupational deferments. Conferences with defense manufacturers have been held recently, and Gen. Hershey believes 200,000 men may be made available for military service from defense industry workers.

Selective Service headquarters have notified local draft boards to reclassify ex-servicemen who were deferred in Class 4-A. They were told that the provision permitting deferment from service in peacetime no longer applies.

Men who had served three years in the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps, National Guardsmen with two years service in the militia and one in federal service, National Guards with six years service, the reserve officers with six years service were in that category.

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Connally shies from phrase in war resolution

‘World conquest’ allusion deleted from draft of State Department
By Marshall McNeil, Scripps-Howard staff writer

Washington –
If the State Department suggestion had been followed, Congress would have acknowledged formally that Germany and Italy are working together on a plan for world conquest.

But at the insistence of Senator Connally (D-TX), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the declarations of war against the Axis powers contained no such preambles as the Department suggested.

Confusion over whether to accept the State Department version accounted for the interruption in Senate proceedings between the reading of the President’s war message and the Senate’s unanimous vote to declare war.

Confer on floor

During this interruption, Senator Connally conferred on the Senate floor with Rep. Bloom (D-NY), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and House Majority Leader McCormack (D-MA).

One Senator said in a stage whisper:

Sol and Tom are having a joint session of Congress right here on the floor.

Before calling the Foreign Relations Committee to meet at 11:30 a.m. EST yesterday, Senator Connally had conferred with Secretary Hull. He went back to the Capitol, and said the State Department was drafting a proposed war resolution. At the same time, his office put the legislative drafting service to work on a similar resolution.

Preamble opposed

The Department’s proposal made known both to Senator Connally and House leaders, started this way:

Whereas Germany is pursuit of a plan of world conquest has committed repeated acts of war against the government and the people of the United States, and has now declared war on the United States…

Senator Connally wouldn’t accept this. He said it was true the Nazis have a plan of world conquest, and that they have committed repeated acts of war against us. But we have known these things for months, he said, without declaring war. Moreover, he wanted the full support of his committee on both resolutions of war.

So, he and the Committee deleted this preamble.

House leaders agree

Rep. Bloom and McCormack, who were prepared to accept the State Department preamble, heard that the Senate was not, and hurried over to find out the facts. The Senate, without formality, suspended its business; Messrs. Connally and Bloom held their “joint session” in the center aisle; the House leaders were informed the Senate was not accepting the State Department preamble; they agreed and the war declarations were speedily approved.

Following the signing of the declarations by the President later in the afternoon, Senator Glass (D-VA) related how Mr. Roosevelt commented to legislators at the signing ceremony that some members of the Connally Committee had wanted to phrase the declarations in a manner to spare the feelings of Axis civilians.

Mr. Glass told the President:

Hell, we not only want to hurt their feeling, we want to kill them!

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Plane-vs.-ship case reopened by sea losses

Reappraisal of value of aircraft and vessels due in Congress
By Charles T. Lucey, Scripps-Howard staff writer

Washington –
The destruction of naval vessels by airplanes in the Pacific appeared likely today to bring a reappraisal by Congress of the relative importance of aircraft and warships.

Senator Walsh (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Naval Affairs Committee, commented that this week’s events seemed to indicate a new shift of strength from surface vessels to aircraft.

He pointed out that he had stressed repeatedly the importance of aircraft in naval warfare, and expressed a belief that his committee would reexamine the old controversy of plane-vs.-battleship in the light of the new developments.

Sinkings provide test

Senator Wiley (R-WI), a member of the Walsh Committee, went further. He said:

Recent events show that the navies of the air are more significant than the naves of the sea.

Mr. Wiley said the record of Norway and Crete, as well as this week’s news from the Pacific, had demonstrated the growing supremacy of aircraft.

Senator Lucas (D-IL), also a Committee member, said:

I certainly would think that some more emphasis should now be given to the bombing plane.

He said the sinking of British capital ships by the Japanese, and of Japanese ships by U.S. fliers, presented a much fairer test than the Honolulu engagement Sunday, where planes attacked ships which were apparently tied up in harbor.

Too early for answers

There was less inclination among members of the House Naval Affairs Committee to accept the plane-battleship tests on the Pacific as indicating a need for greater emphasis on aircraft.

Rep. Mass (R-MN), the Committee’s ranking minority member warned against jumping at conclusions. He said a navy must be strong both in the air and on the surface, and pointed out that German aviation had not been able to bring defeat of England.

But Rep. Cole (R-NY), also a Naval Affairs Committee member, said that:

Developments have caused all of us to question the military usefulness of the battleship.

But it is still too early to get a final answer, he said.

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$10-billion war bill placed before Senate

Congress moves to gear U.S. Armed Forces for long, hard struggle

Washington (UP) –
The Senate votes today on a $10-billion supplemental national defense appropriation – the first step since the declaration of war against the Axis to gear the Armed Forces for a “long, hard war.”

The Senate Appropriations Committee will send the bill to the floor at noon after adding nearly $2 billion in cash and contract authorizations, including $500 million for naval warplanes, to the House-approved version.

The bill, boosting the war program to more than $69 billion, was approved by the committee yesterday only a few hours after the declaration of war against Germany and Italy.

Called first in series

Acting Committee Chairman Kenneth McKellar (D-TN) said the bill was the first of what may be an extensive series “necessary to supply the implements and arms for a long and hard war against three foes.”

RAdm. John H. Towers, Chief of the Bureau of Naval Aeronautics, asked the committee to increase funds for naval fighting planes from a House-approved total permitting construction of an additional 2,020 airplanes. McKellar did not reveal the type or number of fighting craft to be constructed from the $500-million fund.

Votes power program

In an effort to provide power necessary “to make aluminum needed for the defense of the country,” the committee added a power facility program embracing four additional dams in Tennessee. Initial construction costs provided in the bill total $25 million for the dams located on the Watauga River, near Elizabethtown; the Holston Rover near Bristol; at Dole Hollow on the Obed River, and at Center Hill on the Caney Fork River.

Other items added by the committee include: Another $7 billion for Army and Civil Aeronautics Administration land fields raising the total for this purpose to $57 million; $100 million for the President’s emergency blank check fund, and increased appropriations for government buildings in the District of Columbia.

Transfers funds

The committee transferred $1,500,000,000 of funds set aside by the House for Lend-Lease purposes to the general War Department account. McKellar declared that this move indicated no innovation in Lend-Lease administration, adding that it was considered advisable by War Department officials to lump the Lend-Lease monies with general War Department appropriations “to free the department’s hands in spending.”

Other expenditures include $742 million for feeding and clothing Army personnel; $269 million for vessel construction and machinery; and $33 million for the Interior Department for defense construction purposes.

[NormanStewart]

WAR BULLETINS!

British, Reds to map strategy

London, England –
Important British-Russian negotiations, it was learned tonight, will be held shortly to deal with political collaboration and the grand strategy of the war against the Axis.

Japs gain near Hong Kong

Singapore –
British forces held off the Japanese attack on Malaya today but Hong Kong reports admitted some Japanese penetration of the outer mainland defense of that island fortress. British reports said the Japanese strengthened their hold on the Kota Bharu Airdrome close to the Malay-Thai border. Japanese artillery was reported to be shelling Stonecutters Island which lies off Hong Kong Island.

Chiang offers all-out aid

Washington –
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, in a message to President Roosevelt has offered on behalf of China:

…all we are, and all we have, to stand with you until the Pacific and the world are freed from the curse of brute force and endless perfidy.

Planes strafe Jap barges

London, England –
The Air Ministry reported today that Royal Air Force and Australian Air Force planes attacked and set afire to between 50 and 60 Japanese power-driven boats and barges in the first stages of the Japanese attack on Kota Bharu, Malaya.

British sub hits cruiser

London, England –
The Admiralty said today that a British submarine torpedoed and probably sank an enemy cruiser in the Central Mediterranean. The date of the attack was not given.

Marines still hold Wake Island

Washington –
The small U.S. Marine garrison is still holding Wake Island against Japanese attacks, President Roosevelt said today. He told his press conference that the Marines at Wake Island – a lonely station in the mid-Pacific – is small and has done a magnificent job in withstanding Japanese assaults. Last night, it was announced that the Marines had sunk a Japanese light cruiser and a destroyer in air action from Wake.

Japs seize 1,000 American workmen

Washington –
The American Federation of Labor said today it has been advised by the Navy that more than 1,000 American workmen were “captured and taken prisoner” at Midway and Guam Islands in the Pacific. The men were all members of the AFL’s Building Trades Union, and were sent to the island to construct military facilities. The Navy did not specifically say whether Midway or Guam had fallen into the hands of the Japanese.

Haiti joins U.S. against Axis

Port-au-Prince, Haiti –
Haiti today declared war on Germany and Italy. A declaration of war against Japan was made last Monday.

Slovakia declares war on U.S.

London, England –
The official German news agency broadcast a Bratislava dispatch today saying that Slovakia had declared war on the United States and Great Britain.

Indian leader arrested

New Delhi, India – (Dec. 11, delayed)
Sarat Chandra Bose, brother of Subhas Chandra Bose, former Mayor of Calcutta and former president of the All-India Nationalist Congress, has been arrested at Calcutta because of his “recent contacts with the Japanese,” it was announced today. Subhas Chandra Bose fled last January and is reported in Germany.

Nazis claim four sinkings

Berlin, Germany – (by Berlin radio)
German submarines in the Atlantic have sunk four British ships totaling 27,700 tons, the High Command said today.

The ships included a tanker. In addition, two patrol vessels and a tanker were damaged by torpedo hits.

Vichy declares neutrality

London, England –
Radio Tokyo said this morning that the Vichy government has informed the Japanese ambassador that France will maintain strict neutrality in the war between the United States and Japan.

San Diego blacked out

San Diego, California –
San Diego was blacked out for an hour early today and Los Angeles was placed on “alert” when the Fourth Interceptor Command reported unidentified aircraft offshore.

Here the Command said the planes were heard off Point Loma at the entrance to San Diego Bay. At Los Angeles, the Command said merely that they were “probably offshore.”

Australia has air-raid alarm

New York –
The British radio reported today that Port Darwin on the north coast of Australia had an air-raid alarm during the night, the first in the Commonwealth. No details were given.

Japan, Indochina sign pact

London, England –
The official German news agency reported from Tokyo today that Japan and French Indochina concluded a military alliance Monday.

The Berlin broadcast attributed the report to Japanese Imperial Headquarters.

Brussels University closed

Stockholm, Sweden –
The newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported from Berlin today that German military authorities had closed the University of Brussels to its 3,000 students and arrested 10 of its officials. The University board refused to accept five German appointments to the faculty.

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Companies reject air-raid insurance

New York (UP) –
Insurance companies refused today to insure property in the United States and its territories against air-raid damage although demands were heavy and increasing.

The companies could not agree on a standard rate.

To determine what course to take, the Executive Committee of the General Brokers’ Association of the Metropolitan District, Inc., appointed a committee to confer with federal and state authorities.

Another group of insurance men was reported to be already in Washington, trying to find out whether the government is willing to take complete assumption of war risks as the government of Britain did when the Germans were air-raiding the British Isles.

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Practice blackouts urged

Chicago, Illinois –
Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia of New York, director of the Office of Civilian Defense, said today he believed Chicago and all major cities of the United States should have practice blackouts soon.

[NormanStewart]

U.S. bans casualty lists as giving aid to enemies

Washington (UP) –
No more casualty lists will be issued by the War and Navy Departments.

President Roosevelt explained to his press conference today that the Army and Navy felt that publication of lists of men killed or wounded in action would provide information of aid to the enemy, enabling the enemy to determine where and when large numbers of American soldiers and sailors suffered losses.

He said the Army and Navy would notify next of kin of the casualties immediately by telegram. The government will release for newspaper publication only total figures on casualties.

The President asked that press associations, newspapers and radio stations refrain from compiling their own casualty lists from the notices sent to next of kin.

Newspapers, he said, should confine themselves to brief stories that the next of kin – wife, mother, or whatever the case may be – of a given man in the paper’s individual areas has been notified by Washington. This information from next of kin, the President felt, should not be made into the form of lists covering even a given community.

All belligerents in the war, prior to the outbreak of hostilities between Japan and the United States, followed the policy of not making casualty lists public, the President said. They have notified next of kin, and from time to time made public figures on total casualties.

The War Department has issued three casualty lists – one each Wednesday, yesterday and today. The Navy had not released any casualty list up to the time of today’s decision. The Navy is now preparing figures on the dead and seriously wounded to date.

A Navy announcement said:

The Navy Department today announced that for military reasons no list of names of casualties will be released to the public. The next of kin and dependents of naval casualties are being notified and are being asked not to divulge the names of the ship or station to which the relative was attached.

To requests for additional information on the Japanese attack against Hawaii, the President replied that further statements must await the return or report of the Secretary Frank Knox, now in Honolulu.

The President said strongly that no one should publish anything about the Hawaiian attack or present conditions there until the government has heard from Mr. Knox. He added, in response to a question, if such stories are published the government will remember well the people who did it.

He was asked about the propriety of reporting statements made in Congress, giving purporting details of the situation in Hawaii. Correspondents referred particularly to statements made in the Senate yesterday and told the President they had no choice but to print them.

The President agreed that such reports from Congress could not be ignored, but said they should be characterized as not entirely factual.

The President said one Senator yesterday made certain statements about Hawaii with knowing a thing about the situation.

This Senator, the President said, reported somebody’s gossip and made his report as a statement of fact which he had no right to do.

Senator Charles W. Tobey (R-NH) told the Senate yesterday that there had been a “debacle” at Pearl Harbor and charged that the defenses of Pearl Harbor were unprepared.