The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1940-05-16

grim war, soon or late this nation has
got to make a momentous decision. Up
to now, with basic policy of helping
the Allies by selling war materials fol-
cash and with the great bulk of the
people hoping that Hitler will be
beaten, we have maintained trans
parent, not to say ridiculous, pretense
of neutrality.
We are not neutral at alive def
nitely have chosen our side but for a
variety of reasons do not want to be-
come an active or acknowledged bel
ligerent The pretense of staying aloof
when everybody knows we are not
aloof can be continued through our
pussyfooting and dishonest national
conventions. 1t can be proclaimed by
bombastic keynoters of parties
anxious to acquire support Of the
great stay-out-of-war-at all costs
sentiment-or, at least, not to permit
the rival party to acquire that support.
Undoubtedly it will be maintained dur
ing the campaign.
But once the elections are over there
will be a change. No candid person
doubts that. While the campaign is
on, honest leadership from political
leaders appears out of the question.
Neither side is giving it now; neither
will give it as long as it is seeking
votes. Only when relief comes from
the pressure Of political eXpediency
will the realities be faced fairly and
talked about candidly. The big reality
which nearly all our statesmen, in as
well as out of the Administration, ig-
more as completely as they can is simp-
ly this: What are we going to do when
the money runs out?
Under existing law, we can sell 20
the Allies only for cash. The law pro-
hibits extension to them of either pri-
vate or public credit. The most opti-
mistic estimate is that their cash will
be exhausted before the end of 1911
that is, in a year and a half. Various
developments may very much shorten
that time. At any rate, not long after
the next President takes office we will
be confronted with the question of
whether or not to repeal the Johnson
law and extend credit to the Allies. If
the war continues year and half
and British belief is that it will con-
tinue at least three, and possibly seven
years-there will be no escape from
this decision. 1t is not possible to
exaggerate its gravity.
On the one hand, there is the argu-
ment that the Allies have no collateral!
to Justify credit; that if loans are
made they cannot and will not be re-
paid-any more than the loans of the
last war were repaid There is also
the argument that when their cash
runs out the Allies will be really bank
rupt and, unless we open wide our
Treasury doors, they are certain to
lose the war. AS eight years of pro-
f1igate spending has brought the Uni
ted States itself close to insolvency,
the prospect of paying the bill for the
war would be hard one to sell the
American people-particularly as it
seems clear that if we become involved
in that way we hardly can escape COM
plete involvement.
But what is the alternative? To
refuse the Allies credit after their
cash is gone would be equivalent to
joining their enemy. 1t would deprive
them of indispensable supplies from
the one source capable of providing
them. 1t would be terrific blow to
the English and French. 1t might
easily insure victory for the German
side which we detest and bring about
the destruction of the two great de-
mocracies with which we deeply SYM
pathlze and to which we are bound
by so many ties.
49,
In other words, the enormous re-
sponsibility for losing the war might
rest squarely on our shoulders. Then,
OF course, there is the further thought
OF how secure would we be should the
Germans triumph? The Atlantic
ocean seems now great God-given
guarantee of safety for US from any
foreign foe. But how safe would the
Atlantic Ocean be if the British Navy
were manned by Nazi sailors? How
safe would we be against victorious
German regime, full of resentment
over the help-for cash-which we had
given the Allies and the violent de-
nunciation of Hitler acts and policies
That have come from our President.
members of his Cabinet, diplomats,
press and people?
E&&
Even if, in the event of German
victory, we escaped hostile action from
the allied dlctators, every one of whom
has reason for hating US, collapse of
the Allies inevitably would bring to
US a devastating degree of economic
chaos. Even were there no other CON
sequences, refusal of cradit ,,,o,,1J ,1,,+