Evening star., 1939-01-05
A Call to Arms

FTeSlue1C .hOOSeVelCS statesman
like message to Congress was termed
by him report on "the state of
the Nation" 1t was, in fact,
report on the state of the world
after Munich, for it is call to arms,
not only to Americans, but to men
of like mind everywhere, who face
direct challenge to the three indis-
pensable institutions of religion, de-
mocracy and international good
faith"
Before the President finished his
searching analysis of the conditions
beyond our shores, which menace
those institutions, and his proposals
for defending them, he encountered
some evidence that the Congress
elected last November does not en-
tirely approve certain Rooseveltian
plans for bolstering the United States
economic position. But with the
Presidents thesis that storms from
abroad - undeclared wars, military
and economic; more deadly arma-
ments, military and economic, and
threats of new aggression, military
and economic"-make it "increas-
ingly clear that peace is not assured"
the new House and Senate indicated
full agreement.
Every outward manifestation at
the Capitol yesterday presages strong
support of the specific measures
which the President is about to sub
nit for meeting the country's de-
fensive needs. He contents himself
for the moment with acquainting
Congress with the international
emergency which calls for new, and
prospectively prodigious, prepared
ness. MIR. Roosevelt refrains from
saying outright that the peace of
Munich" pointed the way in which
danger lles but in stressing the
"averting of war which threatened
to envelop the world in flames" but
which leaves peace far from safe
guarded, he clearly manifests that
European events of ninety days ago
are paramount in his concern and
chiefly inspire his recommendation
of effective steps to discourage at
tack by powerful nations which re-
fuse to settle grievances at the coun-
Gil table"
MIR. Roosevelt seems clearly to i'm
ply that in certain contingencies he
would not shrink from modification
of our neutrality laws, which may
actually give aid to an aggressor and
deny it to the victim" He uses this
language while emphasizing that
"war is not the only means of COM
manding decent respect for the
opinions of mankind" Obviously the
President considers the economic
weapon potent for that purpose.
While he pitches his message essen
tally in international key, and in
tones of warning that provision of ad-
equate defense brooks no delay, Mr..
Roosevelt dWells earnestly upon the
"far-fung internal preparedness of
the past six years. Naturally he gives
the New Deal credit for the national
blessings which he emissions as hav-
ing flowed from "the new order"
inaugurated in 1888 The President
is frank enough to concede that
some of the new tools" forged for "a
new role of government still need
some machining down, in the light of
experience and operation" But he
apparently holds fast to the belief
that it is inexpedient to achieve
balanced budget by the drastic
method of cutting down government
investment" his euphemism for un-
checked public spending, by one
third
In stresslng his conviction that
government spending should be con-
tinued until we have an eighty
billion dollar country" the President
indicates that he has been converted
lock, stock and barrel to the Mariner
Eccles school of fiscal thinking. In
thus committing himself to such a
policy, Mr.. Roosevelt once again has
turned his back on the conservative
elements in his party and has strayed
dlsturbingly far from the sound posi-
ton he took when issuing his admir-
able warning that even this govern
ment might be wrecked on the rocks
OF loose fiscal policy.
With the single exception of his
plea for bigger and better govern
ment investment" however, the
address was of high order. It is
to be hoped that It's conciliatory
tone-the absence of abusive Ian
guage and the promise of an end to
legislative experimentation be
re-assuring to private business and
help bring about the internal reunion
which must be desired by all.