"Were this incident capable of being regarded apart from the more General background of its implications, it might be less serious—but it must be interpreted in the light the declared and actively pursued frightfulness and intimidation which thas been used by the German Reich an. instrument of international policy. This Government can only assume that the Government of the German Reich hopes through the commission of such infamous acts of cruelty to helpless and innocent ats of piracy.
German Threat "Notice Is served on us, in effect, tet the German Reich proposes 20 intimidate. the United States that we would be dissuaded from carrying out our chosen polley of helping Britain to survive," brief!" the message went on.
we must take the sinking of the Robin Moor as a warning to the United States not to resist the Nazi movement of world conquest.
a warning that the United States may use the high seas of the world only with Nazi consent Were we to yield to this, we would Inevitably "submit to world domination at the hands of the present caders of the German Reich. We are not yielding, and do not propose US, Protest The President proposed no line action. or retaliation to Congress, Apparently, he chose the vehicle of special message so that he could ouch his protest in the most force. ful language at his command.
Nor was-there any disclosure of what. steps the Government might bbe contemplating to protect American merchantmen on the high sea Tt is, in fact, doubtful whether any Information would be given on this point. in order not to tip off Germany as to what to expect, either in the feld of arming cargo ships or of using the Navy to protect. them, President Roosevelt told Congress that the Robin Moor was sune without provision for the safely of the passengers and crew. despite the fact that its American nationality was, Known to the submarine commander and clearly indicated by its flag and markings,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.