Washington, Jan. 3. 76th United States Congress, elected in the first public rebuff to the Roosevelt Administration, met in an atmosphere bf impending political strife here today. President Roosevelt for the first time yee 1932 will be on the defensive in the new Congress where he will be under pressure to modify the objectives and methods of his "New Deal."
Arrayed against him, but not yet in coalition, are the rejuvenated Republican Party and the conservative Democratic bloc goaded by the President's so-called "purge" of last autumn in which he attempted to s¢cure the defeat of anti-New Deal Democrats.
The meeting of the new Congress also coincided with disturbances abroad which possibly may have repercussions here before the session ends next summer.
While Congressmen were absent. from Washington since the adjournment of the 75th congress, the United States stiffened its attitude toward totalitarian states—a policy which Congress will now be asked to support by voting tens of millions of dollars for national defence.
Jan. 4.
'A packed house cheered and shouted wildly when President Roosevelt entered.
Americans had a rendezvous with destiny. That prophecy has come] true,"—Reuter.
'The President was frequently applauded when he declaimed the Mght-Ing passages in his speech, especially when he outlined the methods whereby' the United States could protect own {deal of Government from. the encroachments of foreign ideals.
Dr, 'Thomson, the German Charge WAlfaires in Washington, was a silent fand attentive figure in' the Gallery, while other interested spectators were the French and Spanish Ambas soars, and the Portuguese Minister. Mrs, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the President's Mother, were-among the crowded audience who heard the Presi dent's vigorous address, World Peace Not Assured where are storm signals from across the seas," the President said. "War, which threatened to envelope the World in flames, has been averted, but it hay become increasingly clear that peace is not assured. All about us" rage undeclared wars—military and economic, All round us- are threats of new aggressions—military and economic.
"Storms from abroad directly challenge the three institutions which are indispensable to Americans—religion, democracy and international good faith, In our modern elvitization, the three complement each other. Where freedom and religion are attacked, the attack comes from sources opposed to democracy.
"Where democracy is overthrown, the spirit of free worship has dis appeared. Where the light of democracy has vanished, good faith and reason in. international affairs has given way to strict ambition and brute force. "A regime which releates religion, democracy and inter~ national good faith to the background cannot find a place for peace."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.