The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-07-04
DIR. ivan BENSON
CONTINUED from Page One)

commercial delegation to Moscow Thi
delegation, consisting of some of the
countrys leading business men, sue
ceeded in making definite and signifi.
can't trade negotiations with the Soviet
Thus we have Russia, the country
which Sweden has for generations con-
Sidered its dangerous enemy, turning
out to be Sweden's economic hope. II
fact, though the Swedes may not like
their role in the drama, circumstance!
have made Russia the protector Of
Sweden. Without Stains warning tt
other nations that they are to keer
away from the Baltic, Sweden would
undoubtedly have been in the Euro
pean war a long time ago.
Courageous little Finland, after its
lone fight against a superior aggressor
eventually came to be about the safest
place in Europe. After the Russian
Finnish peace, not only did the re-
fugee children return to their home
land, but along with them came re-
fugee children from Denmark and Nor
way. The Firms Immediately went to
work to reconstruct their country.
They have been getting substantial
help from Sweden and from America.
Our voyage through Germany re-
vealed that the Germans are not in
good circumstances. Every available
piece of ground appeared to be utilized
for crops, but there seemed to be no
one at hand to care for the fields, to
say nothing of handling the harvest.
In the cities there is a shortage of
food, and most of that available is un-
palatable, at least to those not ac-
customed to substitutes or not driven
by the zeal to sacrifice.
However, there is no indication
that a food shortage would ever defeat
the Germans. The old people, cripples,
and youth left behind are obviously
so firm in their belief in Hitler and
his aims that they are willing to suffer
far greater sacrifices until their leader
announces: Our program is completed
ITALY is an entirely different matter.
The people are happy-go-lucky, and
did not want to go to war against any
body. They did lot of marching and
parading, but all in the spirit of fun.
MuSsolini has not been able, like Hit
Ter, to work his people up into a war
fervor. There is, of course, some real
resentment against England, mostly
because Of conditions in the Mediter-
ranean, but no unfriendly feeling to-
ward the French, and no desire ac-
tually to fight against either the
English or the French. Interviews with
Italians on the street, shopkeepers, and
young Fascist soldiers, some of whom
had served in both the Ethiopian and
the Spanish wars, revealed that they
were tired of war and hoped that
Italy could keep out.
"By keeping out of the war, America
has gained rather than lost respect
in Europe. The United States is
looked upon as powerful and a sane
nation. Belligerents on both sides,
neutrals, innocent countries overrun by
ruthless invaders-au will look hope
fully to America for material help as
well as for wise counsel when the con-
flict is over. Americas task now is to
develop her resources, build up her
defense, and to place herself in a
position to meet the responsibility of
helping to solve the problem of Europe |
when the war is over. America will
be the only country capable of taking |
on that responsibility, since in a |
modern war even the victor is loser" |