The latest war developments have produced strong indications that a quick acceleration of the United States' defence preparations is likely. With many Congressmen in a mood to disregard expense, Congress has heard that President Roosevelt is contemplating asking for an immediate expansion of both the Army and Navy, and reviving the Depariment of War's recommendation for a reserve of arms and supplies, costing altogether—$500,000,000, or more. Added to the appropriations already made, or pending, this would raise the total defence outlay for the fiscal year, beginning July 1, to nearly $2,267,000,000. There was a chorus of demands in the House of Representatives for immediate reinforcement of the United States' defences as a result of developments abroad.
The War Department, it is learned, intends to recommend to President Roosevelt that Congress be asked for funds immediately for the building of 200 long-range bombers, to reinforce the Western Hemisphere defences. These bombers would be part of the 6,000 warplanes quota, which Congress authorised for the Air Corps ast year, and would cost about $40,000 each.
Owing to what is considered an impressive showing of air power in Norway, the United States Air Department intends to request a special grant for 500 new four-engined "fying fortresses" costing £80,000 each according to the "New York Times.
President Roosevelt's references to the invasion of the Low Countries, in his speech before the Pan-American Pacific Congress, made a deep impression, on his audience, Mr. Roosevelt was loudly cheered at passages in which he mentioned the invasion. There were also storms of applause when he asserted that aggression presented a definite challenge to American civilization.
The speech is regarded as President Roosevelt's most challenging since his famous "quarantine" speech at Chicago in 1997. In many quarters the speech is looked upon as a challenge to extreme isolationists.
"Guardians of Civilization"
He was proud that the Americas were both "shocked and angered" by news of the latest invasion of neutral states, declared President Roosevelt addressing the Pan-American Scientific Congress, "I am a pacifist and you, my fellow citizens of American republics are pacifists," he said. Amer-leas had become the guardians of Western culture and the protectors of Christian civilization, He added: "Those who seek to dominate hundreds of millions of people in vast Continental areas are (Continued on page 10, col. 4)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.