The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-27
Peace Feelers Sent
 Out Before Speech
Continued from Page 1.o

The nations perplexities are evil dent on Capitol Hill which has be- come a cross roads of public opinion | as legislators gather for the 77th congress. The division of opinion among them seems to reflect certain indecision among the people. That may explain why there is a feeling in some responsible quarters here that apathy among labor and man. agement still is a hindrance to all- out production of armament in this country.
 Polls, public statements, newspa- per editorials and other standards of popular sentiment show sympa- thy to be tremendously with Great Britain. But there is great evidence, also, of popular uncertainty on methods and extent of assistance which should be rendered the Brit ish and how far the United tates would be justified in going to aid Britain.
 President RooSevelt's fireside chat Sunday probably should be regarded in part as. move to impress on the nation the urgency of the emergen- cy and the necessity for an all-out productive effort.
 Indifference, Apathy A protest against indifference and apathy" toward the world sit uation sounded at the White House yesterday when MT. Roosevelt made public a telegram from 200 distin- | VvYserir1o him to clarify for the people the nature of the present emergency and the importance of British Suc- cess to American safety. But few organizations e individuals pulp licly propose British aid to the ex- tent endorsed by the SignerS of that telegram in this sentence:
 we ask you to make it the set tied policy of this country to dc everything that may be necessary 1 to insure defeat of the axis powers and thus to encourage here and everywhere resistance to the plaus- ible but fatal arguments of appease- ment."
 Doing everything that may be necessary" does not exclude belliger- ency. In contrast, keep out of war is the slogan of most groups and i1l- dividuals participating now in the debate, regardless of the extent to l which they favor aiding Great Bri- tain. The national discussion is heated by the fact that what some regard as policies designed to keep us out of war are regarded by others as policies which inevitably would get us in.
 Holt Advises Roosevelt Rush D. Holt, D., W. Va, lame duck senator, addressed to President Roosevelt in 8 radio speech last night this statement:
 "You can do much to help this country and help the world if you will direct your foreign policy tor ward peace rather than war. Soon- CT or later when this war ends there will have to be a conference on a peace treaty. Why can't you use your powerful office sto try te get that accomplished now?"
 vandenberg spoke similarly tc newspaper reporters, asserting:
 "There ultimately will be nego- tiated peace and hope it comes be- fore mutual destruction is so com plete that there is little left, nc mater who wins, except fodder fol Stlaigi. It is not appeasement, it t simply enlightened self-interest, tc inquire at any time whether a ra- tional basis may not be found upon which to terminate this destruction
 An American inquiry, addressed to all concerned, would be particu' larly effective in this direction if i were generally understood that tn, price of refusal to accept a just ant realistic formula might be our owr powerfully enlarged activity. Tn any event, favor total American pre-. paredness-and full Information tt the American people about it instead of vague and illusory expectations I favor aid to England within tht present limits: CD That we do mol become a co-belligerent unless w are directly challenged and: (2) thai we do not dissipate the essential nu. cleus of our own defense"
 Insist on Just Peace
 Wheeler said MT. Roosevelt should insist" on a just peace. The senator divided the people between two groups. those who would be willing to go to war to obtain exterminatior of the Nazi government and those who merely want Great Britain tC win. He opposed Mr. Roosevelt's leass loan plan to provide Great Britain with ships and munitions as an "eva. sion of the neutrality act" and ex. pressed the opinion that the United states "could force peace in Europe at this time"
 Tydings said the United state' should ascertain the minimum de-