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LINDBERGH SAYS BRITISH, JEWS, ROOSEVELT PUSH U.S. TO WAR

Crafty Plan To Involve Nation Seen
Publication Date
Friday, September 12, 1941
Historical Event
Charles Lindbergh Makes ‘Un-American’ Speech
This database includes 1,447 articles about this event
Tags
Gannett full page downloadable
Public Responses in America
Racism and Antisemitism in America
Article Type
News Article
Newspaper
Arizona Republic
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Page Section and Number
9
Author/Byline
AP
Article Text
DES MOINES, Ia., Sept. 11—(AP)—Charles A. Lindbergh charged tonight "the three most important groups which have been pressing this country toward war are the British, the Jewish and the Roosevelt administration."

The famous flier, in an address before an America First rally here which earlier heard the President by radio, declared these groups and other "war agitators" planned a step-by-step campaign to put the United States into the conflict.

"They planned: first, to prepare the United States for foreign war under the guise of American defense; second, to involve us in the war, step by step, without our realization; third, to create a series of incidents which would force us into the actual conflict," he said.

"Only the creation of sufficient 'incidents' yet remains; and you see the first of these already taking place, according to plan—a plan that was never laid before the American people for their approval."

Cheers, Boos Greet Flier
Lindbergh was greeted with mixed cheers and boos when he appeared before the crowd estimated by Earl C. Jeffrey of the America First Committee at 7,500.

A package of America First cards thrown from the balcony struck and knocked down a plant in a vase directly in front of the flier.

The crowd cheered President Roosevelt 11 distinct times during his address.

Robert J. Bannister of Des Moines, meeting chairman, and others on the speakers platform, including the minister who pronounced invocation, were both booed and cheered as they entered.

Position Called "Desperate"
Terming England's position "desperate." Lindbergh asserted:

"Her population is not large enough and her armies are not strong enough to invade the continent of Europe and win the war she declared against Germany. Her geographical position is such that she cannot win the war by aviation alone regardless of how many planes we send her.

"Even if America entered the war, it is improbable that the allied armies could invade Europe and overcome the axis powers."

If it were not for her hope, he said, that she can make the United States responsible for the war "financially, as well as militarily, I believe that England would have negotiated a peace in Europe many months ago and be better off for doing so."

Lindbergh said he could understand why the Jewish people desired the overthrow of the Nazi regime.

"The persecution they suffered in Germany would be sufficient to make bitter enemies of any race," he said. "No person with a sense of the dignity of mankind can condone the persecution of the Jewish race in Germany."

Says Jews Will Suffer
He advised, however, "that instead of agitating for war, the Jewish groups in this country should be opposing it in every possible way, for they will be among the first to feel its consequences."

Tolerance, he declared, "cannot survive war and devastation."

"Their greatest danger to this country," he said of the Jews, "lies in their large ownership and influence in our motion pictures, our press, our radio and our government."

Charging the international situation had been used to obtain a third presidential term, the flier declared "the power of the Roosevelt administration depends upon the maintenance of a wartime emergency."

"Subterfuge" Hit
"The danger of the Roosevelt administration lies in its subterfuge," he said. "While its members have promised us peace, they have led us to war—heedless of the platform upon which they were elected.

"If any one of these groups—the British, the Jewish, or the administration—stops agitating for war, I believe there will be little danger of our involvement."

Assails Lend-Lease Plan
Lindbergh assailed the lend-lease program for sending a major part of American plane production abroad.

"Today, two years after the start of the war," he said., "the American army has only a few hundred thoroughly modern bombers and fighters—less in fact, than Germany is able to produce in a single month."

"Ever since its inception, our arms program has been laid out for the purpose of carrying on the war in Europe far more than for the purpose of building an adequate defense for America," he charged.
History Unfolded Contributor
Marlene K.
Location of Research
Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com)

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LINDBERGH SAYS BRITISH, JEWS, ROOSEVELT PUSH U.S. TO WAR
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