The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-11

wheat and cotton markets abroad
 almost wiped out, private invest
 ment at a complete standstill, ris-
 ing revolt among the farmers,
 nearly 20 billions in deficits and
 the prospect of perhaps the great
 est annual deficit of all next year.
 With all these grave problems here in our own yard, the presi- dent invites us to turn our eyes toward Europe. There is no party in American favoring dictatorship. but one might suppose there were on hearing this vigorous argument against dictators. One might sup- pose that we are on the brink of war and invasion on hearing the presidents martial call to arms. There were phrases about "the de- fense of our homeS."
 RED
 HEARINGS?
 Whatever the president was talk ing about, he cannot complain if his critics say that he is trying to create a diversion to distract atten- ton from the collapse of his do- mestic program.
 Reading closely the paragraphs dealing with the world situation and national defense one comes upon strange contradiction.
 To defend our homes, our de-
 mocracy, our country and our in-
 terests from foreign enemies be
 calls upon us to arm. Of course on the question of adequate na-
 tional defense there is no divi-
 sion among the people. All believe in adequate national defense. They will certainly divide on what is adequate. But having driven
 home this more or less vague cry for national defense" the Presi-
 dent turns into another channel. Let us follow him and see where we come out.
 We cannot continue "to let pass without effective protest acts of aggression upon sister nations" !" Whether right or wrong, this. is must be admitted, is not a prob- lem of national defense. This means we must not merely defend ourselves, but we must go to the aid of sister nations who are at- tackled. But what sort of aid? Arms? No, since "there are many methods short of war, but stronger and more effective than mere words, of bringing home to aggres- sor governments the aggregate sentiments of our own people" HOW SHORT
 IS SHORT?
 Hence we must come to the aid of sister nations, we must pro- test against the aggressors, but we must make that protest effective and to do that we must use net "mere words." but methods "short of war" But how far short? Is the President talking about eco- homie sanctions? How far short Of war will that turn out to be-? How long will a nation submit tc embargoes and economic blockadeS before it provokes violent meas ures?
 In other words, 1t is not merely or national defenSe" the PreSl- dent is, thinking, but of stepping out into the world and using our
 economic strength to supply goods to the nations he believes are in
 the right and to keep goods from going to nations he things are ag- gress0rs.
 The plan is, not to take our stand upon our own continent and defend our own shores and inter- ests, but to become the active, ef- tfective economic ally of all other nations our State Department fav- ors and the active, effective eco- ncmic enemy of all nations ad- judged by it to be aggressors. Of course if we do that we cer- tainly will need plenty of navy, plenty of army, plenty of powder and plenty of allies. But that is not national defense. So the ques- tion arises-why the call to arms? For our national defense, or to provide the second line of offense behind an economic offensive?