Evening star., 1938-11-21
Editor, Author
Hit tFds(ism
In Town Hall
Economic Boycott
Is Proposed by
Lewis Mumford

An editor and an author Joined In
q denunciation Of Fascism before a
Town Hall audience last night at
the Shoreham Hotel, but debated
the best means Of combating it.
Opposing Bruce Bliven, editor Of
the New Republic, before an audi
ence Of 800 people, Lewis Mumford,
author Of "The Culture of the Cities"
and authority on city development,
urged an economic boycott against
the Fascist powers.
Asserting that democracies failed
to act against the relationships be-
cause they feared that such action
would mean war, Mr.. Mumford said:
1--WE want a policy, a line of imme-
diate action which promises to in
f1ict maximum amount OF discom-
fort on the Fascist nations with a
minimum risk to ourselves. The pol
icy of non-intercourse with the
Fascist states would begin with Ger
many, Italy and Japan, taking on
others If the menace increases. 1t
means stopping oil shipments to
Japan with an embargo on silk ship
ments to the United States. It
means the stoppage Of tourists and
exports of gold to Germany, the lat
ter by which Germany gains access
to a world market in ammunitions.
Such embargoes are not watertight,
but would mean great cost to the
Fascist powers and little harm to
U.s."
Bliven Would Begin at Home.
Replying to Mr.. Mumford that
the best possible answer to fascism
is to show the world that democracy
is better than any other form of
government. Mr.. Bliven urged that
I'VE make 1t work in our own coun-
try by abolishing poverty and inse-
curity in this country"
Warning of a native growth of
fascism in the United States. Mr..
Bliven said, I'VE must defend de-
mocracy here from destructive forces
at home and not so much from
those in Europe"
Il am not opposed to non-inter-
course in principle, but in part. be-
cause I don't think it can be done" i"
he continued Il would like to see the
United States stop the sales of the
munitions OF war. It's disgrace
that Japanese planes are dropping
American bombs on Chinese babies.
But as for complete nom intercourse,
it's magnificent phrase. but the
action would be by the United States
alone. Other people would supply
what the dictators want. Further,
the embargo itself might destroy
the fine impulses behind it. For
example, British trade grew fat dur
ing the World War on selling goods
to Germany via Scandinavia"
Boycott Fits Fascists' Plan.
Warning that such boycotts fit in
with the plans of the Fascist die
tors, Mr.. Bliven said that totalitarian
states are restricting themselves to
a minimum of imports in line with
their policy of the development of a
national self -suf1iciency.
In his argument for resistance,
Mr.. Mumford also urged non-co-
operation in the policy of appease-
ment as means of maintaining
peace. saying that you appease a
tiger when you throw a sheep to it,
but you don't destroy its appetite.
1t is merely temporary process
followed by a renewed appetite.
There Is no relation between ap-
peasement and a lasting peace"
Warning against rearmament
program, Mr.. Bliven declared that
with no visible threat to the United
States at present, I'VE can already
see signs of the Army and Navy
boys saying that we must rearm for
self-defense. If they get away with
1t We'll have five times as much
armament as we need to conduct a
democracy, terrific burden on our
national economy"
Mr.. Bliven urged the lifting OF
the embargo against Loyalist Spain
declaring that the embargo on
munitions to the government allows
the Insurgents to buy unlimited
quantities of munitions from Ger
many and that victory by Gen
Franco will hasten the growth OF
fascism in South America.
Spain Is Latin foster
mother" Mr.. Bliven continued
There are large Franco parties in
every South American country. If
Franco wins we can say good-by to
all of them. And America is aid
ing the Franco victory by her en-
barge on Loyalist Spain.
"Must Have Clean Hands,"
"The United States wishes to pro-
tect the Western Hemisphere, keep
ing fascism out of Latin America
The main inf1ltration of Fascism
into these countries is either eco
nomic or cultural. In the former
case it may be seen when Brazil's
coffee is exchanged for German
railroad equipment. Suddenly We
step in and say, You can't sell cof-
fee to Germany because we don't
like fascism.' We are then told
What coincidence it is you don't
like fascism just when you want
10 sell us your goods Cultural in
filtration of fascism comes through
short and long wave radio, military
missions and propaganda. How can
we meet this unless we come with
clean hands? It will be hard un-
less we can present a picture of a
democracy, not on paper, but as
one that is functioning."
Presenting advantages in the
policies which he advocates, Mr.
Mumford declared that "if we take
action before the opposition does
we can choose the place, the method
and the weapon rather than wait
ing to be told how, why and when
we can act"
Both Mr.. Bliven and Mr.. Num-
ford urged that the United States
admit refugees from Europe. Mr.
n1isyay. c.,n6oefAN tfof tI{c na,,1l 10