The Pittsburgh Press (July 24, 1941)
U.S. PROBABLY WILL GET INTO WAR – WILLKIE
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Believes convoys to Britain will be needed, raps defense program
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Hollywood, July 24 (UP) –
Wendell L. Willkie, who is crusading for national unity, said last night that the United States, whatever course it takes, “probably will” get into the war.
As he addressed in Hollywood Bowl 12,000 persons attending a rally of the Southern California Committee for National Unity, pickets who said they were members or sympathizers of the America First Committee paraded outside the gates.
They carried signs saying:
Elect Willkie to Parliament
Bundle Willkie to Britain
We Won’t Willkie
There was no disturbance.
Mr. Willkie will make another major address in San Francisco’s civic auditorium tonight.
Sees need for convoys
Mr. Willkie said:
We are not arguing for war; we are arguing for freedom. War may come and probably will, whatever course we take. Neither a position of isolation nor one of internationalism guarantees peace. The United States is not seeking war in establishing outlying bases. It is moving to secure other outposts from which our freedom can be defended.
He said the United States would have to convoy merchant ships to England. He said:
We don’t want to have to escort our merchant ships through the perilous waters of the North Atlantic, but the defense and strengthening of freedom is going to require that…
We cannot keep Britain afloat with words, no risks and undelivered goods. This policy spells destruction. It is the most dangerous course that America could possibly pursue. We cannot defend freedom that way.
Mr. Willkie said there was confusion and bad management in the defense program, and President Roosevelt had failed:
…in the most elementary task of management – the task of calling in the ablest men in the country and giving them the power to act.
But the remedy for this is not to obstruct the defense program. The remedy is just the opposite of that. We must appreciate this defense program as our own. We must realize that in it lies our greatest hope of freedom. The cure for a bad defense program is not more opposition.
Defends President’s power
Defending the concentration of power in Mr. Roosevelt’s hand, he said:
It was the clear intent of the founders of this country that in emergencies the President should lead; that he should meet and solve those situations in which is involved the long term safety and strength of freedom.
He continued, deviating from his prepared address:
No man ever tried so hard as I did to remove the present President from office and I reserve to myself and to every other American citizen the right to criticize any act his administration performs.
But I repudiate utterly any notion that in this most critical hour of this country’s history that Franklin Roosevelt is acting with any sinister purpose.
And I would remind those who seek to preach such a doctrine that they will leave this country leaderless in one of its most critical hours. Roosevelt may be mistaken on some of his actions, but no American citizen sitting in his place would do more than pray and work for the preservation of the freedom of America.