"Is it possible that those requests of President Roosevelt, which we have just heard, that nations should guarantee non-aggression, can be refused?"
He stressed that neutral nations suff var, did Holland and Switzerland during the World War.
"We have no designs other than those solemnly st forth in our Constitution, which nobody can deny to be just and which we hope will at last be recognized peacefully," he continued. "But, no more than the small nations such as those that I have, mentioned, can we hope that our good intentions will save us from aggression on one side or the other.
"The aim of the Government's policy is to maintain neutrality. The best way and the only way to secure our aim is to place ourselves in the best possible position to defend ourselves, so that no one can move to attack us or violate our territory with impunity."
He announced that the Government is therefore obliged to make immediate preparations for defence and that the present crisis necessitates the recruiting of several thousands of volunteers. New regulations will be published this week, he declared.—Havas,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.