The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-27
Not a War-Revolution

The surrender Of France and accept
ance of Hitler's and Mussolini's terms Is
more than a disaster for the French
Republic, more than great victory Tor
Hitler's incredible war machine. 1t was
a symbol of the cataclysmic changes
that are taking place at a bewildering
speed in the world we live in. For France,
with England, has long been associated
in mems minds with freedom -- with all
that democracy means. And democracy
is what Hitler, as he said and wrote time
and again, is out to destroy. France Is
OR used to be--a living example OF all
that Nazsm abhors
Little by little we are coming to realize
that this Is not war IN the TRADITIONAL
sense It Is, instead, revolution with the
most far-reaching purposes imaginable.
There have always been vlctors and van
pushed in war. But, once the peace
treaties were drawn, the world went on
much as 1t did before. The victorious
powers did not attempt to force gov
eminent, philosophy OF life OF their own
choosing, on the conquered. Few are ape
to believe that If Hitler wins he will be
reparations, the restoration Of the pre-
war German colonies and similar mater.
ial gains. For Hitler, as Mein Kampf
vividly indicates, Is consumed by two
ambitions One Is TO make the German
race master of all Europe and perhaps,
in the fullness Of time, the world. The
other Is to destroy the capitalistic system,
liberalism in government, and the demo-
cratic process. We have many an object
lesson in the countries he has 50 far
taken. In every instance, freedom OF
press and speech and all rights OF pro-
test, have been abrogated 100 per cent.
While the forms OF local government are
permitted to exist all important decisions
and policies are made in Berlin. Revolt
Of any kind against Nazi orders Is pun
ished with the utmost severity. And racial
ninorities are ruthlessly oppressed.
Men who have had contact with high
German circles have lately been de-
scribing what they believe Hitler victory
would mean to Europe, and TO the bal
ance of the world. They say that the
Fuehrer emissions Germanic Europe IN
which only the Germans, the master race,
would be permitted TO bear arms. A
European customs union, completely
German controlled, would be established
The smaller nations would disappear, or
would exist as mere geographical entities,
without power or real meaning. All cur
rencies would be dominated by Germany,
and Germany would establish the terms
on which trade between peoples could be
carried on. The gold standard, Of course,
would cease to exist. 1t would be re-
placed by some sort Of barter system.
The superior" peoples OF Europe-the
British, the French, the Scandnavians,
etc. - would command high standard
Of living, while the "inferior" peoples,
such as the Slavs, would be much In the
position Of slaves, performing the hard
labor ad receiving in return Just enough
food and clothing and lodging and medi-
cal attention to Keep them alive and able
to work.
So far as this hemisphere Is concerned,
there are two theories One Is that, after
Hitler had consolidated Europe, he would
attack the Americans with military force.
The other Is that he has no such plans
- which Is what he said In his recent
interview with an American news CORE
spondert. The second theory has many
authoritative adherents Hitler, they
say, feels that the Americans would have
to come to terms with him whether they
wished to or not, In order to dispose OF
their surplus cOmmOQltleS anu IHdHuIdC'
lures abroad The Americas, he reasons,
must have foreign trade - and that nee
essity would drive them to join In what
ever system OF commerce he establishes.
Our gold - and at the moment we have
some go per cent Of all the worlds none
tary gold - would be useful only for fill
ing teeth and manufacturing jewelry.
one note Of optimism is occasionally
sounded. Even II Hitler wins an over
whelming victory In Europe, some hope
f,ils saw, he will not be able to put his
plans into effect This Is based on the
Fact that all the empires won by conquest
"a the past have invariably collapsed
sooner or later Of their own weight. Con-
ouered people are not cooperative - a
tremendous part Of the conqueror's ener-
ries and resources and man power must
Be given to policing them. And In time,
the conqueror grows rich and soft. SO
much for speculation. This seems sure
--tomorrow's world, no matter who wins
this war, will be vastly different place
than the world Of today. There will, say
Che authorities, be farnines, depression,
constant social and economic upheavals.
The future for all nations Is far from