ABSTRACT
President Roosevelt thought that the cases of "attack" in the Atlantic during September, October, and November, justified calling upon Congress for a declaration of war against Germany. In a message to Congress on October 9, President Roosevelt urged modifications in the Neutrality Act and recommended specifically the repeal of Section 6 of the act which prohibited the arming of American flag ships engaged in foreign commerce. On November 17, 1941, the Joint Resolution amending the Neutrality Act, the intellectual and moral appearances of things presented many anomalies. The President and his high officials had also been proclaiming again and again formulas that indicated the possibility of American involvement through an attack: War is coming nearer and nearer. By the enactment of the Lend-Lease Act in March, 1941, Congress has bound the country to the defeat of the Axis Powers and the President is rightfully taking the "defensive" actions necessary to assure the victory of the Allies.
