Evening star., 1939-06-12

DeIieVeS nave Nor Motions
Should Be Shown More
Consideration
TO the Editor Of The Star:
The strength Of democratic ideals Is
not the strength Of our belief in them
but the strength with which we practice
them. To be democratic is to be fair,
open to conviction and, above all, rea-
sonable.
have been disappointed by the man.
ner in which Secretary Hull has ap-
preached world problems and the con-
tinual reference to the need for the
restoration OF world trade.
1t has been the boast of our Nations
leaders that this country Is virtually
self-sufficient. If this be the case then
what have the have-nots to trade us for:
our surpluses? About one-third of our
trade with Germany is in potash and
chemicals having potash as a base. Do
we need to import this commodity? The
answer is no. The only reason we do
not mine that commodity of which we
have deposits in Arizona, New Mexico
and other States is that we find that we
can buy it cheaper when purchased from
Germany. 1t Is cheaper because Ger
many is forced to pay extraordinary low
wages to the miners with a subsequent
re6llrfipn of ho eto
the miners. 1t is obvious that il Ger
many were to raise its wages to a level
comparative with our own scale we
would Immediately resort to our own
deposits.
This is illustrative of the fallacy of
restoring world trade without equalizing
to a great extent the abnormal balance
OF economic materials. Germanys trade
Is based upon buying the raw materials
from the have nations, processing, these
materials and, due to the discrepancy
OF wage scales, selling these goods back
TO the have nations cheaper than they
can produce these goods themselves
without lowering their standards of liv-
Ing. If world trade should be restored
without equitable readjustment of eco
nomic wealth the have nations would
then hold the have-nots in economic
slavery, forcing these nations to lower
wages and increase work hours still more
World trade-in fact all trade-is but
an exchange of goods and services.
1t Is impossible, foolish and grossly
selfish for one side to hold the goods
and at the same time perform the serv-
ices and then cry to high heaven that
the other side refuses to practice normal
trade relations. 1t is even more stupid
ana selfish situation for that side to
hold the goods and then force-by hold
Ing out the threat of performing the
services themselves-the poorer side to
furnish its services at a distinct loss to
human resources and comfort. AS long
as the world must face the picture of
one side attempting to hold the other
in economic slavery We will see wars and
revolutions.
AS an American who hopes for peace
1 address this open letter to the Fuehrer
OF Germany, the Premiers of Italy and
france, the Prime Minister of England,
the Emperor of Japan. Joseph Stain and
the President Of the United States:
AS an inhabitant of the world in COM
mon with yourselves, living life which
at its best is difficult, I and nv fellow
citizens are desirous of learning whether
you are as eager of preventing war as
are we who must die upon the battle
field.
The question is not one of honor or
strength but of justice and right. We
cannot hope to put honor before Justice,
strength before right. Nationalities are
not dependent upon honor, for nation-
atty ends with death while honor is
imperishable.
The history of the world has not been
the history of actions and events, but
the history of great men. Men partici.
pate In actions which history records.
What will be your actions and the &C.
tions of your peoples?
As citizen of the world I ask of YOU
the following:
Are the German, British, Italian, Rus
sian, Japanese. French and American
people willing to destroy their weapons
mutually and categorically If fair set
tlement of the worlds problems is
reached?
Are the British, German, Italian Rus
sian, japanese, French and American
people willing to share with each other
and the world the resources which they
possess above and beyond their actual
needs and are they willing to relin.
quish sovereignty over territories which
they hold not Immediately adjacent to
their own homeland so that these terri
tories may be utilized for the benefit Of
themselves and other nations?
Are the British German, italian, Rus
sian, Japanese, French and American
peoples willing to place the administra-
ton of their surplus resources and sur
rendered territories in the hands of an
international body democratic in nature?
Are the British, German, italian, Rus
sian, Japanese, French and American
peoples willing to furnish the necessary
men and funds to create an interna-
tlonal army to guarantee the preser-
Vat1on OF the pledges entered into. such
international army in no way to domi-
nate the domestic policy of any nation?
1 am sure that If the first two oues-
tions are answered in the affirmative
that war will be prevented and world
trade will be restored. The third oues-
tiOn DrOvides neopc u,h .rah,, ;,,.4 H.;