The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-04-21
OPEN LETTER To PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT

plete isolation and indifference.
On the other hand, 1t is equally
clear that they are hostile to any
policy that may send millions of
our young people to fight and die
IN a foreign war on a continent
three thousand miles from home.
But, MIR. President, there is an
other course open to us. For it is
undoubtedly true that a major
ity of our people would accept
the policy of refusing to send
armed forces abroad, and yet of
helping the democracies by let
ting them, and all nations that
can do so, buy supplies from us
and take them to their own
ports, on their own ships, at their
risk, on strictly cash and carry
basis.
This policy of remaining at
home and of selling supplies to
the allies was, in substance, fol-
lowed by the United States from
August 1914 to April 1917. And,
while it failed toward the end of
the conflict, it did keep us out of
war for almost three years. And
in all probability it would have
kept us out permanently, had it
not been for three things:
ID The consistent efforts of
President Wilson to get us into
the war. X
(2) The mistaken belief on the
part of the German government
that America could not effective
ly fight in war three thousand
miles away. 10
(3) The bungling of the British
and American governments in
permitting American passengers
to sail on the British liner Lusi-
tania, which was secretly laden
with munitions.
Admittedly, no claim can be
made that the policy we followed
from 1914 to 1917 was real neu-
trality. II was neutrality in name
only, since, with the allies con-
trolling the seas, the central pow
ers could not import 3 supplies
from the United States. Nor of
course would such a policy be
neutrality if adopted at the pres
ent time. Nevertheless, it has
several important advantages.
I One is that it does not involve
QUIZ rushing headlong into a, con-
'flict which, aside from certain
comparatively small racial and
political groups, who are doing
all in their power to endanger
peace. the American people earn
estly desire to avoid. Another is
that starting a war, with a ma
tional debt of As billions, would
mean a probable breakdown of
our democratic and economic
systems, and a certain destruction
of the American standard of liv-
ing.
We entered the last war with
but a billion of debt, with low
taxes, and adequate federal in
come. In eighteen months our
debt rose to twenty-five billions
If we 60 to war now, with taxa
ton already at the point of dim
inishing returns, our debt would
unquestionably reach ninety or
one hundred billions in two
years. Savings bank deposits
and insurance policies would be
largely wiped out by an inescap-
able initiation, which would inn
poveriSh all classes. especially
the middle class. and wreck priv
ate enterprise and employment.
Again, in view of the proof, in
1917 and 1913. of this country's
ability 10 transfer its vast mill
tary and other resources across
the Atlantic. it is hard TO believe
that, out of resentment to our
cash and carry policy, the Ger
mans or Italians would commit
acts of aggression such as might
force America to throw its might
against the Rome-Beriin axis.
The fact IS that, during the va
rious wars that have been raging
in various parts OF the world In
recent years, many nations. in
Guiding our own, have been ship