ROOSEVELT ASKS CONGRESS TO REPEAL ARMS EMBARGO (9/22/39)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 9/22/39 | Turner Catledge

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime”.)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

A key to the map symbols is on my profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Chopin’s Polonaise in A, Op.40 No.1, ' Military '

[Homer_J_Simpson]

International Situation – 2
A Solemn Message – 2-4
Points in Roosevelt Talk – 3
Incidents in European Conflict – 5
Mexican Labor Split By Nazi-Soviet Pact – 5
British Can ‘Out-Horror’ Nazis in the War, Noted Scientist Retorts to Hitler Threat – 6
Planes Rescue Crew of Torpedoed Ship; Aircraft Find Some of 34 Men in Water – 7
22 Arrive in U. S. on Dixie Clipper – 9-10
‘Crisis’ on a Liner Follows Lecture – 10
Mussolini Gets Villa From British Admirer - 10

[mainepatsfan]

Mussolini Gets Villa From British Admirer

I've always been interested what course the war would have taken if Mussolini had followed Franco's lead and stayed out of it.

[dfwgator]

British Can ‘Out-Horror’ Nazis in the War, Noted Scientist Retorts to Hitler Threat – 6

Can you say, "Dresden"?

[Lancey Howard]

It’s interesting how the NY Times refers to the European countries - - France, Poland, Germany, and England - - as “belligerents”.

[Lancey Howard]

I liked the story about the Dixie Clipper and “another Kennedy son”.
My question: What was Mr. Dodge trying to hide?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

It’s interesting how the NY Times refers to the European countries - - France, Poland, Germany, and England - - as “belligerents”.

That comes out of the neutrality debate. Under terms of the act we may not trade with nations with which we sympathized so long as they are "belligerents" in a foreign war. According to the letters to the editor on the subject yesterday a strong majority of Americans wish to help Britain and France at the expense of Germany.

[dfwgator]

It’s interesting how the NY Times refers to the European countries - - France, Poland, Germany, and England - - as “belligerents”.

And the Soviet Union wasn't a belligerent?

[Lancey Howard]

This flip-flop on the “neutrality act” at the onset of WWII is especially eyebrow-raising when you look “forward” 20 years to Eisenhower’s ominous warning about the military-industrial complex.

[Lancey Howard]

He (Roosevelt) emphasized the aid to employment that might be brought about by the use of our factories in the production of such war materials as would be sought by belligerents who are now deprived of them - - employment which, he said, would aid our own national defense.

"And if abnormal profits appear in our midst even in time of peace, as a result of this increase of industry," he added, "I feel certain that the subject will be adequately dealt with at the coming regular session of the Congress."

[henkster]

I picked up on that too. Mr. Roosevelt is anxious for the United States to sell weapons. He knows full well that due to the British naval blockade Germany is not a potential customer. While this position has been interpreted as a sign of his early support of the allies, I think it’s based more on financial grounds than philosophical. America is still in the Depression and Roosevelt’s socialist policies have prolonged it. He needs foreign demand for US goods to provide the “stimulus” to end the Depression since “tax, borrow and spend” didn’t cut it. The Brits proved to be reliable customers in the last war so it made sense to do business with them again.

of course, the other shoe is that those war profits can be taxed to pay for the socialist utopia.

All of Roosevelt’s decisions prior to December 7, 1941 regarding the UK and Germany are equally explainable on financial bases as well as moral ones.

(typing with one hand is excruciating)

[CougarGA7]

Man. Bad day at work. I got a couple radio broadcasts today by Kaltenborn.

CBS - Kaltenborn Reporting on Hitler's Speech on Poland

CBS - HV Kaltenborn Commentary

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Hitler's voice sounds deeper than in previous recordings you have posted.

The second link, Kaltenborn's commentary, is a must-hear. It starts off with updates on Rumania and France. The bulk of the report (about 12 minutes total) is on the arms embargo debate in the Senate. It provides a great picture of how things stood.

[CougarGA7]

I was talking with someone else, (I think abb) about that a while back. Even Kaltenborn sounds significantly different in the two recordings. It must just be a by product of the recording technology of the day coupled with the time it has had to survive to even exist in a digital format today.

That second recording if very interesting though isn’t it. It really give a feel for some of the feelings of people at that time in history. I almost wish there was a rebuttal to it out there.

[GeronL]

Was that the first photo of JFK in the paper?

[GeronL]

The recordings are awesome. I wish there were more but I guess a lot of stuff went out live wihtout being recorded.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Was that the first photo of JFK in the paper?

I don't know but I kind of doubt it. The Kennedy clan got a lot of pub from the Times in that era. Sometime in mid-1938 I had a great picture of a grinning Joseph Kennedy walking in London with several of the boys (not John or Joe Jr.). Little Teddy was prominent in his short pants. Unfortunately that was before I learned how to post images. I think there will be another of Teddy in the next week.

[BroJoeK]

"All of Roosevelt’s decisions prior to December 7, 1941 regarding the UK and Germany are equally explainable on financial bases as well as moral ones."

Please, do not doubt for one second, that since the Great War ended in 1918, Franklin Roosevelt and many other knowledgable American leaders considered Germany THE future enemy and Britain and France our trusted allies.

The question was NEVER "which side are we on?" It was always: how much help do our allies need, and how much is legal / "appropriate" to provide?