I have asked the Congress to reassemble in extraordinary session in order that it may
consider and act on the amendment of certain legislation which in my best
judgment so alters the historic foreign policy of the United States that it
impairs the peaceful relations of the United States with foreign nations and
it was because of what I foresaw last January from watching the trend of
foreign affairs and their probable effect upon us that I recommended to the
Congress in July of this year that changes be enacted in our neutrality law
I now ask again that such action be taken in respect to that part of the act
which is wholly inconsistent with ancient precepts of the laws of nations
the embargo provisions I ask it because they are in my opinion most vitally
dangerous to American neutrality American security and above all American
peace
it has been erroneously said that return to that policy might bring us nearer
war I give to you my deepened unalterable conviction based on years
of experience as a worker in the field of international peace that by the
repeal of the embargo the United States will more probably remain at peace than
if the law remains that it stands today I say this because with the repeal of
the embargo this government clearly and definitely will insist that American
citizens and American ships keep away from the immediate perils of the actual
zones of conflict this means less likelihood of incidents and controversies
which tend to draw us into conflict as as they unhappily did before the last
world war there lies the road to peace these perilous days demand cooperation
between us without a trace of partisanship our acts must be guided by
one single hard-headed thought keeping America out of this war