Fraternity-Testvériség, 1943 (21. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1943-02-01 / 2. szám
1 TESTVÉRISÉG It is natural that all able bodied men of Hungarian origin and military age are serving in our armed forces. The descendants of those valliant Hungarians, who fought in the armies of General Washington, or who rallied around Lincoln to save freedom and democracy, are ready to help. It is also natural that our men and women are working in the factories and at the assembly-lines that our soldiers may have the weapons with which to assure the freedom of America and the freedom of the world. And it is natural that we willingly pay for this war which was forced upon us; that we buy bonds and stamps; and that we contribute every possible way to the war effort. But to give you the proof of concrete facts, please allow me to cite the record of the American Hungarian Federation during these years of International conflict. On March 4, 1940, The American Hungarian Federation in a letter addressed to the President, expressed the absolute loyalty of citizens of Hungarian descent to the President and to the policies of the United States as fOTmulated at the early stages of the present world conflict. On January 7, 1941, the American Hungarian Federation in a letter addressed to the President of the United States, again expressed the eager willingness of American citizens of Hungarian descent to fulfill all the duties which citizenship in the world’s greatest democracy entails. We also expressed at the same time our disapproval of the conduct of the Hungarian government, which resulted in the signing of the pact with the Axis powers. On August 15, 1941, we expressed to the President our belief in the Atlantic Charter, that the salvation of the world depended upon the successful application of the eight point program which was formulated by the President and Prime Minister Churchill. On November 27, 1941, we declared as the main objective of our organization the fight for the Four Freedoms as determined by the President in several speeches. At the same time we condemned and rejected Nazism and Fascism and pledged our full cooperation to the American government. All these spontaneous decisions were made by us before the Hungarian Government declared war on the United Slates. Then on December 14, 1941, we communicated to the President, that our determination to fulfill our duties as loyal and patriotic American citizens can and will in no way be affected by the declaration of war by the Hungarian Government on the United States. We solemnly pledged ourselves to follow the President to final victory. On April 8, 1942, we issued a proclamation to the people of Hungary calling upon them to deny all assistance to Nazi-Germany and to act at once in order to shake off the Nazi yoke from the Hungarian nation. On June 4, 1942, when in consequence of the Hungarian puppet governmen’s conduct, the United States had declared war on Hungary, we proudly reiterated all our previous pledges, offering our lives and our possessions in the sacred fight for freedom and democracy under the leadership of our President. We explicitely condemned the Hungarian government which by declaring war on the United States “took this action not upon their initiative or in response to the wishes of their own people, but as an instrument of Hitler.” This is the documentary record of the American Hungarian Federation during the past three years. To-day we are gathered here to re-dedicate ourselves to the principles of the Atlantic Charter and of the Four Freedoms, which clearly express the principles of American democracy. When we say democracy, we mean democracy and reject all forms of dictatorship or totalitarian government, and thus we remain faithful to the second point of the Atlantic Charter which permits "no territorial changes that do not accord with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned." When we say democracy we mean democracy and reject all forms of imperialism under whatever disguise they may present themselves. Thus we remain faithful to the third point of the Atlantic Charter, because we "wish to see sovereign rights and self- government restored to those who have been forcibly deprived of them." When we say democracy we mean democracy and thus we remain true to the sixth point of the Atlantic Charter which proposes "after the final destruction of nazi tyranny," a peace established "which will afford to all nations the means of dwelling in safety within their own boundaries, and which afford assurance that all the men in lands may live our their lives in freedom from fear and want." And if you ask us what we are going to do in the future, what principles we are going to guide our daily efforts, we answer: — our President has shown the way in his historic speech on May 28, 1941: "We will not accept a Hitler-dominated world and we will not accept a world of the nineteen-twenties in which the seeds of Hitlerism can again be planted and allowed to grow." "We will accept only a world consecrated to freedom of speech and expression. — freedom of every person to worship God in his own way, __ freedom from want, and freedom from fear!" Ladies and Gentlemen: The spirit of citizens of Hungarian origin is the spirit of all other citizens regardless of racial origin We all are Americans. We all are united in one solid home-front behind our fighting forces and behind our government. We are all inspired by the same will: Final Victory! Americans! There must be Victory, because only the victory of American arms will assure that "freedom shall not perish from this earth!" t lO% SAVED NOW OR 100% TAKEN BY THE AXIS LATER! BUY WAR BONDS
