Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-04-01
Germany's Charges

flict are part OF the propaganda OIL
war. Some of them bear the ear
marks of reality, or at least the basis
for it. and others on their face are
the baldest sort of propaganda.
Germany'S claim in the past few
days to discovery in the files OF the
former Polish governments foreign
offices in Warsaw of alleged records
purporting to show that the United
States encouraged the War on Ger
many and promised ultimate aid to
the Allies comes as something OF 4
sensation. The average man, who II
war should come to this country
would have to do the fighting anG
the diving. will have to be his own
Judge of the genuineness OF these
documents. and in doing so must
weigh their source as we'll as the cN-
pcctcd and inevitable denialS OF
Polish and Washington officials,
which have been customarily prompt
and emphatic.
Since this country as nation IS
neutral in the present war. its men
in key positions of authority natur-
allv would have been expected to
disc!aim all knowledge Of any such
pledges as the Germans say they
found to exist In that respect, they
are no different from leaders in
countries that are already parties to
the conflict. They admit what is
their advantage to admit and deny
pOintblank those things they wish to
hide from their own people and
from the world.
On the other hand, GcrmanyS
capaci'y for propaganda is abund-
antlv well known. 1t was so in the
last war and is equally true in this
one. President Roosevelt APPLY OBJ
served that charges from warning
nations should be taken with three
grains OF salt.
Until Americans have had Oppor-
tunity to make up their minds 1t Is
not possible to determine just what
the reaction here will be- It would
be our own guess, however, that the
inclination will be, as much as any
thing else, to regard the German
findings as forgeries. Much will de-
pend upon promised additional rcVe-
lations. and the expert propagandlStS
in Hjtler's regime will seek to pre-
sent these, if at all, in as impressive
manner as possible for the effect
they may have.
Should the alleged documents
turn out to be faxed instruments,
the incident will be charged to
merely another bold stroke intended
TO influence world opinion. What
Germany would hope to cash IN on
from such move would be to in
flame public opinion in this country
to such an extent that the govern
ment here would have to tone down
its sympathy and open aid to Ger
many'S enemies.
If the whole project is propa-
ganda, it is not the first ana will not
be the last sample of that art. The
fact that it may be just that is all
the more rea:on for Americans to
, hold their heads and not to be
swept Oft their feet. Rash moves arc
inopportunc now or any time.
1t is well enough to be mindful,
however, OF the fact that there are
! interests in this country who would
! like to sec the United States take
an active part on the side OF the
| FhllleS Ill lne wal oliol 'iS 'h'~'
hostilitics bcgan last fall, it will be
! remembered, there was good deal
of wild speculation that sooner or
later we would get into it, as we
; did before, and there was predic-
lIf;s,,. too, that ii Tie fortunes Of war
ultimately began running against
the western .dcmocracies. America
would prefer to goo their aid rath-
er than sec the cause Of liberty lost.
AS time has passed ana lie war has
degI nCratcd into Il StalcnilS on Inc
western front, there has been lis OIL
this talk.
D.! The United States is full Of ism
Of all sorts, and some Of these group.
favor dictatorship Of one kind OF
another in this country They knol,
that if war Gid come, it would al
most certainly bring about the over
throw of our democratic form OF
government and establishment Of {
tOtalitarian regime in its stead We
are not so sure but that some Whc
hold these views are fairly well en-
trenched in responsible connections
! in Washington.
! It could be possible-We say it