Evening star., 1940-10-16
Urqes Stiff Stand
Against Aggressors
Correspondent Approves Of
Anti-Appeosement Article
By Major Eliot

Freedom Shrieked when KoscluskO
fell" And freedom will utter louder
shrek if Britain falls. We live in the
most critical period of the worlds his
tory, and see before us the imminent
prospect that human freedom will lose
all the progress it has made in 1000
years of the Christian era, under the
assaults of the barbarians.
I had to smile rather bitterly on see
ing one day two newspaper articles
giving advice to the American people
in this world crisis. The first article,
not carried by The Star, is an appeal
to all that is weak, foolish, cowardly
and pusillanimous in our natures. 1t
points out SpeciouSly the terrible things
that may happen to us if we do any
thing that might offend Japan, and
advises us to think carefully and be
slow to act. In brief, to do nothing
for the present, or probably for the
future. 1t is an excellent piece of Ger
man-Japanese propaganda. 1t supports
and reinforces in a subtle way, all the
threats the bandit nations are now cir
culating in this country to keep us from
acting.
The other article, by Mai. George
Fielding Eliot, was published by The
Star. 1t shows thoroughly clear and
comprehensive appreciation Of the world
situation But what is more important,
it also breathes spirit of courage, bold
ness and forthrightness. The spirit of
that article should be the spirit of
America in this and all times.
We live in world governed by force,
says Maj Eliot. And the only way to
overcome force Wrongfully applied is
by the use of superior force. The su-
perior force that can overcome all the
force at the command of the barbarianS
is possessed by the United States Will
we use it to insure the victory of free
dom? Or will we stand by and do moth
ing, looking on calmly while freedom
is vanquished?
Are we too selfish and cowardly to
fight for what we believe in? I do not
think So But for those who can think
of nothing but the immediate security
of their own hides, some aspects of
the general situation should be pointed
out. We have not been asked to fight
and we do not need to fight. Our eco
nomic power, alone, coupled with
threat and evident willingness to use
our fighting power, would be sufficient
to meet the situation and insure the
victory of the free nations Germany
and Japan not to mention with a
grim Italy, have thus far held this
mighty Nation in check by threats of
force they do not possess. What have
we to fear from Germany, who is I'M
able to cross the English Channel in
the face of a nation Ghe United King
DOM having less than a third the pop
ulation, and probably less than a quar-
ter the wealth and resources of America?
What have We to fear from Japan,
puny nation, immeaSurably inferior to
us in all the elements of strength? The
japanese Navy is inferior to our own
in tonnage and far more inferior in
fighting power. The japanese Army is
begged down in a futile attempt to con-
Quer military nation, which for
three years has proven too much for her.
Japan is poor country, on the verge
of bankruptcy, actually dependent on
Great Britain and ourselves for most
Of the sinews of war
We should be willing to fight for what
We believe in even if the odds appear
to be against us. Why then, should We
be afraid TO fight with the odds so
greatly in our favor and with two brave
allies still holding Off the enemy attacks?
And finally, We cannot avoid fighting
by inaction at this time. Never was
there a time in history when vigorous
action was so greatly required. If we
do nothing while our friends are
stricken down. one after another, as so
many already have been, we shall then
see the whole barbaric world organized
against us, the last stronghold of
freedom. Then, indeed, We shall have
a fight on our hands, which we can
evade by prompt action now.
There is a military principle that for
bids the use of half measures" Make
up your mind whether you are going
to retreat or fight. If you are going
to retreat do it promptly and fully;
withdraw all your forces to a safer
place. If you are going to fight, fight
with all your strength, and do it
promptly and vigorously That is the
situation we face. We should avoid
little embargoes against Japan, cutting
off scrap iron, and little gasoline, while
continuing to furnish everything else,
and to buy Japans products. If Japan
is our friend we should do nothing to
hamper her in her difficult fight,
hopeless fight without our aid If Japan
is our enemy, we should clamp down
complete embargo on everything from
the United States to Japan, and from
Japan to the United States. And we
should not do it next year, or in 1912, or
1945, but now, when it will produce re-
suits.
The fate of the world is today in the
hands of America. We control the force
that can rule the world. BY the exercise
of that force we can defeat all the
forces of barbarism. Will we do it, or will
we wait" until all our friends are down
and out and we face host of enemies
alone, in ruined world? I do not
attempt to point out what we can do
and should do to insure the victory of
freedom Our authorities, military and
civil, can be trusted to perceive what
should be done. And whatever they
consider necessary, America can do it.