Evening star., 1940-12-15
Whittier America?

OuG Oh llle WelteI Ol Charges, Qe-
malls, protests and appeals which the
past few days have brought forth
there emerges one plain and ominous
conclusion-the American defense
program is begging down.
1t is begging down primarily for
two reasons. First, there is little real
understanding Of this war and the
implications-grim implications from
our standpoint-wh spring from
It. Far too many of us cling to the
blind belief that it is just another
war, fsr-away clash of two systems
of power politics which we can by
pass through wishful thinking Too
many of us have not understood or
dave refused to understand that
revolutionary force is loose in the
world, a barbaric force which must
ano will endeavor to smash anything
and everything that stands in op-
position to it. And, second, lacking
this understanding, we are being
seriously weakened by internal dis
unity. One faction pulls against
another; each seeks some selfish ad-
vantage; none will make any sacri-
flee voluntarily. Inevitably, this
many-sided tug of war has been pro-
ductive of fumbling and confusion,
OF an inability to pursue whole
heartedly any single objective be-
cause, as a Nation, we have no
clearly defined goal. We are drifting
In indecision at time when the
need for purposeful and determined
action is paramount.
This lack of unity was evidenced
by the warning which William S.
Knuosen of the Defense Commission
sounded to the National Association
of Manufacturers that our rearma-
ment program is seriously behind
schedule, that production of bombing
planes in particular is far below ex-
pectations. Essentially, Mr.. Knudsen,
who can qualify as an expert, was
pleading for understanding and unity
Of purpose when he, said: The only
way to get this program going is to
get a concerted effort and a CO.
operative effort-an incentive fired
with the spirit of sacrifice from
everybody from the bench to the
managers desk. If we can accom-
plish this, our program is finished"
Lack Of unity and understanding
likewise is evidenced by Secretary of
War Stimson's charge that labor
troubles and competition for mate
rials and machinery between gov
eminent and private industry have
slowed down work on the Army's
housing program. The same short
comings are reflected in Defense
Commissioner Sidney Hillman's pro-
test against the pending award of a
defense contract to the Ford Motor
Company on the ground that Ford
Is not complying with the Labor
Relations Act-this in spite of the
fact that the Labor Act contains
machinery for it's own enforcement
and that Congress has refused to
approve the extra-legal method of
enforcement contemplated by the
demand for denial of Government
contracts to alleged violators of
the law.
Still another indication of this
lack Of understanding, in The Stars
opinion, is reflected in the address
by General Robert E. Wood at the
manufacturers meeting. The es-
sence of General Woods remarks was
that we are in no danger of sue
cessful attack from any combination
OF s,ggressor nations, even though
the British be decisively beaten, but
that misguided Americans" are try
Ing to prepare the public for the
plunge into war;" For his part, he
believes that If all American aid
should be withheld from the British
a desirable negotiated peace would
result, and in any event he urges
that the neutrality law be retained,
that Britain be extended no credit,
and that at the utmost this Nation
merely sell the British materials on
a cash basis. His address, repre-
sentative of what he calls the mod
crate isolationist" viewpoint, was
applauded enthusiastically by the
industrialists attending the meeting.
General Woods argument obviously
ignores the moral considerations, as
suming, as it necessarily must, that
we have no vital interest in the fate
OF a dozen or more nations whose
way of life has been closely identified
with our own. But, whatever some
may think Of the short-range merits
OF that position, it has no validity in
the longer view. We do have vital
selfish interest in the survival Of
Great Britain as a strong sea power
otherwise we are foolish to be spend
ing billions of dollars on armament.
If Britain should be decisively beaten
1t would fall to us, as a measure of
elf-preservation, to remain armed
to the teeth under constant threat
OF attack in both oceans for many
years to come. That is as certain as