When I repotted to our government the seriousness of the problems that faced the British people I did it in considerable detail, and purposely, because I wanted our government to have all the information possible affecting the plight of Great Britian so that this country in the days to come could guide itself more intelligently in its foreign policy regardless of what the outcome of the war might be.Īs support for the charge that I am an apostle of gloom, it is said that I have predicted the defeat of Great Britain. Every one will agree that had I as your Ambassador reported to our government anything but the truth as I saw it, I would have been false to my trust-I would have betrayed my country. I never thought that it was my function to report pleasant stories that were not true. I always believed that when the American people sent an Ambassador to a foreign country they expected him to report the facts to his government as he saw them, the bright side and the dark side-the good things and the bad things-the strengths and the weaknesses. If at this early date intolerance of contrary opinions flourishes, our future is dark indeed.Ī favorite device of an aggressive minority is to call any American questioning the likelihood of a British victory an “Apostle of Gloom”-a defeatist. No matter who wins this war, America faces most critical times. How can we maintain national unity when the motives of patriotic men are indiscriminately assailed? Intolerance breeds intolerance, and the whole country suffers. This habit of smearing an opponent because you disagree with what he stands for is a distinct menace to our free institutions.
The reputation of the American press for fairness is being compromised by the tactics of these men. A few ruthless and irresponsible Washington columnists have claimed for themselves the right to speak for the nation. Many Americans, including myself, have been subjected to deliberate smear campaigns merely because we differed from an articulate minority. The saddest feature of recent months is the growth of intolerance. It is my earnest desire that I may be of some assistance in helping my fellow-citizens to form a clearer understanding of the burning issue of our foreign policy. Tonight I hope to set forth as clearly as possible my views on some phases of the great issue confronting the American people. Moreover, there is a growing confusion and a reliance upon emotion which strikes me as altogether unnecessary and extremely harmful. Since then there have appeared many false statements regarding my views on foreign policy. I urged that we give England all possible aid.
I declared then that my sincere judgment was that we ought to stay out of war-that we could stay out of war. Shortly after I came home from London I spoke over the radio for the re-election of President Roosevelt.
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