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take measures necessary to avert a disaster which would interfere with the winning of
the war.
I have given the most careful and thoughtful consideration to meeting this issue without
further reference to the Congress. I have determined, however, on this vital matter to
consult with the Congress.
There may be those who will say that, if the situation is as grave as I have stated it to be,
I should use my powers and act now. I can only say that I have approached this problem
from every angle, and that I have decided that the course of conduct which I am
following in this case is consistent with my sense of responsibility as President in time
of war, and with my deep and unalterable devotion to the processes of democracy.
The responsibilities of the President in wartime to protect the nation are very grave. This
total war, with our fighting fronts all over the world, makes the use of the executive
power far more essential than in any previous war.
If we were invaded, the people of this country would expect the President to use any and
all means to repel the invader.
Now the revolution and the war between the states were fought on our own soil, but
today this war will be won or lost on other continents and in remote seas. I cannot tell
what powers may have to be exercised in order to win this war.
The American people can be sure that I will use my powers with a full sense of
responsibility to the Constitution and to my country. The American people can also be
sure that I shall not hesitate to use every power vested in me to accomplish the defeat of
our enemies in any part of the world where our own safety demands such defeat.
And when the war is over, the powers under which I act will automatically revert to the
people of the United States to the people to whom those powers belong.
I think I know the American farmers. I know they are as wholehearted in their patriotism
as any other group. They have suffered from the constant fluctuations of farm prices
occasionally too high, more often too low. Nobody knows better than farmers the
disastrous effects of wartime inflationary booms, and postwar deflationary panics.
So I have also suggested today that the Congress make our agricultural economy more
stable. I have recommended that in addition to putting ceilings on all farm products now,
we also place a definite floor under those prices for a period beginning now, continuing
through the war, and for as long as necessary after the war. In this way we will be able to
avoid the collapse of farm prices that happened after the last war. The farmers must be
assured of a fair minimum price during the readjustment period which will follow the
great, excessive world food demands which now prevail.
We must have some floor under farm prices, as we must have under wages, if we are to
avoid the dangers of a postwar inflation on the one hand, or the catastrophe of a crash in
farm prices and wages on the other.
Today I have also advised the Congress of the importance of speeding up the passage of
the tax bill. The federal treasury is losing millions of dollars each and every day because
the bill has not yet been passed. Taxation is the only practical way of preventing the
incomes and profits of individuals and corporations from getting too high.
I have told the Congress once more that all net individual incomes, after payment of all
taxes, should be limited effectively by further taxation to a maximum net income of
$25,000 a year. And it is equally important that corporate profits should not exceed a
reasonable amount in any case.
The nation must have more money to run the war. People must stop spending for
luxuries. Our country needs a far greater share of our incomes.
For this is a global war, and it will cost this nation nearly one hundred billion dollars in
1943.
In that global war there are now four main areas of combat; and I should like to speak
briefly of them, not in the order of their importance, for all of them are vital and all of
them are interrelated.
1. The Russian front. Here the Germans are still unable to gain the smashing victory
which, almost a year ago, Hitler announced he had already achieved. Germany has been
able to capture important Russian territory. Nevertheless, Hitler has been unable to
destroy a single Russian Army; and this, you may be sure, has been, and still is, his main
objective. Millions of German troops seem doomed to spend another cruel and bitter
winter on the Russian front. Yes, the Russians are killing more Nazis, and destroying
more airplanes and tanks than are being smashed on any other front. They are fighting
not only bravely but brilliantly. In spite of any setbacks Russia will hold out, and with
the help of her Allies will ultimately drive every Nazi from her soil.
2. The Pacific Ocean Area. This area must be grouped together as a whole every part
of it, land and sea. We have stopped one major Japanese offensive; and we have inflicted
heavy losses on their fleet. But they still possess great strength; they seek to keep the
initiative; and they will undoubtedly strike hard again. We must not overrate the
importance of our successes in the Solomon Islands, though we may be proud of the
skill with which these local operations were conducted. At the same time, we need not
underrate the significance of our victory at Midway. There we stopped the major
Japanese offensive. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]