British Pathe

Title reads: "President Roosevelt makes history".

Washington DC, United States of America (USA).

Various shots of men and women in evening dress entering large room in White House. They are representatives of all the American Republics. As they enter they shake hands with President...

Title reads: "President Roosevelt makes history".

Washington DC, United States of America (USA).

Various shots of men and women in evening dress entering large room in White House. They are representatives of all the American Republics. As they enter they shake hands with President Franklin D Roosevelt and Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt. C/U of Roosevelt speaking: "The war is approaching the brink of the Western Hemisphere itself. It is coming very close to home. No spurious argument no appeal to sentiment, no false pledges like those given by Hitler at Munich can deceive the American people into believing that he and his axis partners (cut) would not relentlessly on this hemisphere of ours. Our national policy today therefore is this, first we shall actively resist wherever necessary and with all our resources every attempt by Hitler to extend his Nazi domination to the western hemisphere (cut) We shall actively resist his every attempt to gain control of the seas. We will not hesitate to use our armed forces to repel attacks. Therefore with the profound consciousness of my responsibilities to my countrymen and to my country's cause I have tonight issued a proclamation that an unlimited national emergency exists and requires the strengthening of our defence to the extreme limit of our national power and authority". The speech forms the track for the story.

Shots illustrating speech: M/S of Adolf Hitler and Neville Chamberlain signing the Munich agreement, Hermann Goering is present. Various shots of American battleships and aircraft carrier at sea. Pan with a twin-winged torpedo bomber taking off from the deck of an aircraft. Panning shot with the plane as it drops its torpedo into the sea from a height of about ten feet. Various shots of American battleships firing their heavy guns broadside. Various shots of American infantry in action and a line of field guns. M/S of large railway gun firing. Ground to air M/S of a fly past of Mohawks.