Mission to Moscow Page #13

unless some emergency

made it imperative.

But we feel this is

an emergency, mr. Senator.

That's why the president

asked me to call this meeting.

And as a matter of fact,

the european situation

looks better

than it has in some time.

Anyway, hitler has

czechoslovakia.

That may

keep him quiet.

Gentlemen,

do you really believe

hitler will be satisfied

with crumbs

when he thinks

he can grab the whole loaf?

According

to his own statements,

danzig

and the polish corridor

are next on his list.

We believe he's bluffing,

mr. Secretary.

And this time,

england and france

won't let him

get away with it.

My god, mr. Senator,

we can't afford

to take a chance on whether

he's bluffing or not.

We've got to try to stop him

before he gets started.

And we have a man here

who's just back from europe

and observed conditions

at firsthand.

The president has asked

ambassador davies

to give us his views.

We'll be glad to hear

whatever mr. Davies

has to tell us.

Well, i hope you'll

let me speak frankly.

As i sat here

listening to you,

i felt like someone

returning to another planet,

not to another

continent.

In europe,

they don't ask

if there's

gonna be war anymore.

They only ask,

"when is war coming?"

And what answer

do you hear to that question?

That unless something is done

quickly to change the present course,

it will come either before

hindenberg's birthday in august

or before the nuremberg

rally in september.

But that would be

within two months.

That's why i feel

so much depends

on the action of congress.

By amending

the neutrality bill,

we can serve notice on hitler that

this country will give material aid

to any nation

resisting aggression.

There were diplomats from little

countries in europe who begged me

to urge this amendment

because they thought it was

the last desperate chance

to prevent

the outbreak of war.

On what do you base

your conviction

that war is so close,

mr. Ambassador?

I visited

17 european countries,

and i've talked to

a lot of people.

Heads of government,

businessmen,

taxicab drivers.

Almost every one of them

is convinced

that it will come this year.

Besides that,

what i saw with my own eyes

convinces me that hitler is

getting ready to take the plunge.

He can't afford to wait until the

other countries catch up in armament.

Time is working against him

and for his enemies.

In my opinion, hitler hasn't

the economic strength

to take on

england and france.

Mr. Senator, may i give you a

few facts to test that opinion?

Here's the territory

that germany would control.

All of this vast area

of central europe.

He would have access

to all resources

from berlin to baghdad.

England and france, with a combined

population of 82 million people,

desperately unprepared,

would be confronted

with 76 million germans,

44 million italians,

having a working agreement

with 70 million in japan.

A grand total of 190 million

people armed to the teeth.

But the british navy could

blockade germany and italy by sea.

Hitler has enough submarine and

air power to break any blockade.

In fact, the shoe may be

on the other foot.

If he can succeed in

smashing england and france,

he'd be well on his way to keeping

his promise in "mein kampf."

His promise

to rule the world.

Not a very pleasant picture,

gentlemen, but it's safer

to see an enemy

reaching for his gun

than to find yourself

looking down the barrel.

Thank you, mr. Ambassador.

I can't add anything to

what mr. Davies has said.

I can only plead

with you for us all

to put party considerations aside

and not

to delude ourselves

with any

isolationist feelings.

Give our president

the one last chance

to stave off what

may be a catastrophe

for the whole world.

Mr. Secretary, if we could

agree with your premise,

it would be our duty

to join in amending

the neutrality act at once.

We have no doubt

that mr. Davies

is as sincere in his

convictions as you are in yours,

but we must act in

accordance with our own.

Then, mr. Senator,

it will be your responsibility

for whatever happens.

We've done all we can.

We've gone to considerable

trouble and expense

to get our own information,

which assures us

there will be no war

in europe this year.

On september 1, 1939,

the german blitzkrieg

burst into poland,

and the rape of europe

had begun.

In quick succession, denmark,

norway, holland, and belgium

were beaten to their knees.

Beneath the tread

of a thousand tanks,

the mighty

maginot line of france

fell like a house of cards,

and hitler fulfilled his promise

of parading into paris.

Then, the conqueror paused

on the blood-soaked beach

at dunkirk

separated only

by a narrow channel

from the next victim

on his schedule.

But with magnificent courage,

great britain took the full

frenzy of his hatred:

Out-fought him

in the skies above london

and shattered

his dream of invasion.

Baffled and enraged, hitler then

made the great mistake

of another little corporal.

In june of 1941,

he attacked russia,

and a breathless world

awaited the result.

But losing one city or losing

10 cities isn't losing the war.

The russians will take their

losses and go on fighting.

But what about moscow?

The military experts say

it will fall within 6 weeks.

I can only say again

that i think they're wrong.

I believe the red army

will amaze the world.

I'm glad to hear you

say that, joe,

because i'm going

to ask congress

to extend lend-lease

aid to russia.

Good.

Of course,

if we're wrong,

the stuff will fall

into german hands.

But it's well worth

taking the risk.

There's no doubt

in my mind

that the red army has a good

chance of beating hitler.

If only more of our

people realized that.

There's been

so much prejudice

stirred up about

the soviet union

that the public hasn't

been given a chance

to know the truth.

Mr. President,

a few years ago

you called me into this

room and gave me a job.

It was a bigger job

than i thought at the time.

I don't think

it's finished yet.

I'd like to lay those ghosts

that our fascist propagandists

are brewing up about russia

and tell the people of

this country a few facts.

May i have your permission

to use my report

to the state department?

You've more than

my permission, joe.

You have my blessing.

Thank you, mr. President.

Good night.

Good night, sir.

And in the meantime,

informed quarters believe

the president will assure

stalin of lend-lease aid

just as soon as the act

can be...

do you mind?

Oh, hello, dear.

No, it's all right.

How are you feeling?

Oh, i feel all right.

A little tired,

but nothing that a good

night's rest won't cure.

So, then what are

these for?

Oh, that.

Holden dropped in.

The doctor

always feels better

if he leaves a little

medicine in the bottle.

So, the doctor was here?

So, the doctor was here.

As if you didn't know.

You sent for him.

All right, i did...

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