The obvious majority of Congressional members, however, still was uncertain of the exact temper of the public feeling on the convoy issue—the uncertainty was reflected by the act that non-interventionists openly assailed Col. Stimson, while interventionists mostly declined to comment for publication, although privately they hailed the address, The local press whole-heartedly applauded the Stimson speech, with the "New York Times" demanding an mediate "showdown with Hitle Senator Burton Wheeler, Democrat of Montana and leader of the isolationists, at Lansing, Michigan, asserted that it was apparent that "every devious means is being used to take the United States into the war."
Mr. Alf London, former Republican Presidential candidate, at Topeka, Kansas, declared that he could not see "how we can be brought nearer to war unless with a formal declaration by the Congress."
Tokyo declared that it heralded both convoying and outright American participation in the war.
The "New York Times," in an editorial, said, "The only real question is whether we shall choose to fight under our own terms and conditions or under the terms and conditions set by Hitler. Let's not wait.
"While there is still time to keep Britain in the wal let's have a showdown with Hitler—while it is still possible for us to have it at our own tremendous advantage."
The "New York Herald-Tribune" said, "This is a decisive hour. We have reached the end of defence in our spare time. We have reached the end of counting on the British to save us...We have reached the end of defence by money, good intentions and moving oratory... This is the meaning of Colonel Stimson's eloquent and incisive call for the utilization of the U.S. Navy to police the seas against German piro. United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.