The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-08-15

Heavens name can any person in
their right mind conceive how an
army large enough and fully
equipped could invade this
hemisphere if we set up air and
naval bases wherever we believe
they will be needed, regardless of
who owns the land involved.
OF course interventionists have
for their first consideration the
saving of the British empire, not
the saving Of American democ-
racy. Interventionists would have
us strip our own defense to aid
Britain. They would have us turn
our planes, guns and destroyers
over to Britain, they would have
us repeal the Neutrality law, the
johnson act and any other legis-
lative act that might interfere
with giving Britain all aid-yes, in
GLIDING man power.
War Inevitable.
But assume the Interventionists
are sincere in their thoughts that
we could afford to give Britain all
our defense. Suppose we did strip
our navy and our air forces for
Britain. The interventionists
might say that that would bring
about victory for Britain. BUT
what would Hitler and Mussolini,
Russia and Japan say. Would
they say it was short of war /.
or would they declare war upon
us. 1t is not necessary for Amer
lea to declare war in order to 60
into this war. We can be dragged
in by a war being waged against
us. If we commit acts which
Germany and Italy, Japan and
Russia could construe as acts of
war we have only our own stu
pidity to blame for entering the
war.
If America continues to follow
the chanting of the intervention
lists who are leading us down the
road to war, the interventionists
with their subtle propaganda will
have succeeded in their fight
namely to get America into the
war.
In conclusion let me say that
Americans should eye suspiciously
any war monger or Intervention
lists who is trying to get America
into war. They should eye sus-
piciously any movement designed
to work up war hysteria to such
point where we become easy prey
for the war mongers.
If the interventionists are real
ly insincere and think the cause
of Great Britain is SO noble then
I suggest they go over and help
Great Britain now. But will they
go, of course not. They will make
sure Of that. But the flower of
American youth would go.
National Defense.
Now I want to make my stand
clear. favor a strong national
defense, not to make war in Eu-
rope or Asia, but to protect our
shores from any invasion from any
enemy or combination of enemies.
To enforce the Monroe Doctrine
which says mo to invasion and
which says "No" to our meddling
in European affairs. Strict en-
forcement of the johnson act and
our neutrality laws. Establishing
air and naval bases wherever we
consider them necessary, regard
less Of who owns the land in
volved. outlawing all Commun-
ism. Nazism and Fasism within
the borders Of the United States
as well as any other un-Ameri-
can activity. I love this country
and the form of government we
have here. my love for America
Is so strong that I cannot for a
moment condone the activities Of
any man or woman who tries to
destroy whether our enemies bore
from within or without. England
has my moral support 100 per
cent but America has my active
support.
EDWARD J. RYAN,
Thomaston, Conn.
Chairman Of the Committee To
Keep America Out Of Foreign
Wars.