Pages which were never edited and found separately to the main book. 1939-1940
The European War was on and restrictions became severe, while contact with Europe had reached the difficult stage. Young men were being inducted into the armed services of America, while organisations, like the American First, whose opposition to war was the principal role in their policy. It was a very influential outfit, a meeting held at Madison Square Gardens, addressed by Colonel Charles (Lindy) Lindbergh, Joe Scott, Los Angelos, and others held an overflow. Over 90% of the people at the time were opposed to American entry into war. However, certain movements proved that underneath all the talk and promises, war was being daily stimulated by rationing, propaganda, anti-Germanism, voluntary air-wardens, movies, radio broadcasts and in general a deliberate method of preparing the minds of the people. Despite all this effort, the vast majority were still against war. To prove one example, prior to his election or re-election President Roosevelt speaking in Boston said "I can promise you Mothers and Fathers again, and again and again, that your Sons will never be sent to fight in any foreign war." This statement was carefully prepared for him as it was feared by his advisers, if not made, he would lose the election. This gives you an idea of the temperament of the people at the time. However, after election President Roosevelt, a noted anglophile and later a Soviet lover, was preparing American entry into World War 2. He made a very bitter attack on Mussolini and Italy in declaring war on France. (Try and reason this with his treatment of France and De Gaulle later.) In the February of 1941, he had American warships sinking German submarines in the Atlantic exactly ten months before Pearl Harbour. German sailors were being killed by a Nation at peace. His introduction of the Lend Lease giving aid to England was contrary to the rules or laws of neutrality but Roosevelt pursued his ruthless policy indifferent to what the people thought. In making this lend lease offer to England, he never asked them for a concession or bargain, unmindful, of the fact, there were English bases and Islands near the shores of America which England could not protect. They could have been requested for American security. An all out "Bundkes for Britain" was widely and cleverly organised all over the US. A forerunner to entry to war. Actors and actresses of Movies and Stage were compelled to subscribe, lending much publicity to the sympathy for the so called Allies of England and France. Meanwhile, the Communists were very anti-war, Hitler and Stalin had signed a pact of neutrality and it was amazing to watch their antics. Many labour leaders, even professional men, were against the active ones to keep out of war and they used all the arguments which America First used but the moment Russia was attacked by Hitler, the situation completely changed. Those who belonged to America First were openly smeared with every possible charge of pro-Nazi etc. When in reality not one of them had the slightest sympathy or liking for Hitler. As a matter of fact they violently disagreed with him and Mussolini. 1941 Roosevelt even took time out to insult one of the great Americans, Charles Lindberg, and called him a copperhead. It was not known at the time and until years later, that Lindy had been asked by the U.S. Government in 1939, to give them a report on the German Air Force. Lindy was even asked to accept an honour to keep up the pretence. His loyalty to his country prevented him from replying to Roosevelt. This action by Roosevelt was also seized on by the Communists for attacks on Lindbergh. One Irishman named Quill had the unmitigated gall to call Lindy a "lone wolf" as Lindy was known as a lone eagle, due to his individual flight across the Atlantic in 1927. Top flight reporters and journalists like John O'Donnell, John T. Flynn and others were regularly under attack by Roosevelt’s, Liberals so called and Communists. On one occasion, due to a remark or question made by John O'Donnell at a Press conference, later Roosevelt handed a crony an Iron Cross and told him to give it to John O'Donnell. O'Donnell shot back at Roosevelt later, were you scared to give it to me personally. Young men came to me who had been called for armed services and I gave them all the advice necessary.
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