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SPEECH BY et us endeed a pleasure SENATOR HARRY S. TRUMAN LEXINGTON, MISSOURI to be here with my OCTOBER , 1942 friend John B Jullion TO BE RELEASED ON DELIVERY It is an honor and a privilege to be a guest at this Democratic here in st Laws tonite meeting, but however great the pleasure of being among my friends of my home state, there can be no feeling of gayety - for this is a solemn hour - one of the most solemn hours in American history America is in peril - grave peril, Let no one deny that fact. On all sides wanton agressors skilled in the blackest arts of treachery, savergy and brutality have embarked on a path of conquest which would debase and destroy democratic freedoms, democratic ideals and democratic institutions everywhere. In Europe only Britain and Russia remain in the path of the conqueror. They must not and they shall not fail. In the Western Pacific the gangster nation, the Nipponese, has overwhelmed the Philippines, Malaya, Dutch East Indies and are savagely attacking our American troops in the Solomons. Alaska and our West Coast have seen the occupation of Kiska in the Aleutian Isles. However, when the savage blow fell which brought the United States fully into the war - the dastardly attack of the Japanese on Pearl Harbor - we were not completely unprepared. Due to the foresight of our great President, Franklin D. Roose- velt, his plan for a two-ocean navy was already in full effect. Over the howling protests of the major portion of the Opposition Party great strides had been taken for the defense of our country. Our President has given us a blueprint for victory. He has called for the most gigantic armament program the world has ever known. This program has been ratified by the Congress which has appropriated and authorized the expenditure of billions and more billions of dollars. Our Si REVALAND NARA plan calls for planes - swarms of planes to dominate the air on every battlefront 60,000 this year, 125,000 next year. Tanks - 45,000 this

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