Evening star., 1940-04-20

POWCl, Wy IAic AdCI VI WIlcIc JIlC pre-
pondefant power will lie at the time
when the cease fire sounds.
Peace only comes from unity and
constitutional law backed by ade-
1uate power. The dictators saw their
opportunity, created power for
themselves and began to remake the
world In their own image.
Germany's Terms"
R0r Peace Recalled.
But what would happen If Ger
many were to win the war.
They can only win the war II they
can defeat France and Great Britain
and take sea power from them.
The cat was let right out
Of the bag during Mr. Sumner Welles'
visit to Berlin. You remember the
statement which was issued by the
Ministry OF Propaganda in Berlin at
that time. Germany's terms for
peace were that Great Britain and
France should cease to interfere in
Central and Eastern Europe, that
the British "stranglehold" on the
seas should be ended and that
Gibraltar should be restored to
What we think that Hitler means
by demanding that France and Eng
land should renounce all future in.
terest in Eastern Europe is that
Nazi Germany should be allowed to
destroy the independence of the
smaller nations there. ."
Let me turn now to the German
thesis about the so-called British
"stranglehold" on the seas. That
"stranglehold,' I suppose, refers to
the fact that Great Britain pos
Sesses a navy larger than that of
any other country except the United
States.
Do you suppose for one moment
that if Nazi Germany or Communist
Russia obtained command of the
seas the world would be anything
like as free as it was during the
period CT British control? 80
Command of Seas
Unifying Factor.
Consider, too. the significance Of
the word Gibraltar" so lightly
thrown in by Dr.. Goebbels. 1t
sounds so simple and so fair that
that historic rock should be re-
turned to Spain. But supposing the
principles were adopted that all
naval bases should be controlled
by the local inhabitants, the Straits
OF Gibraltar by Spain. Singapore by
Malaga, Panama by the Panamani-
ans, and soon, where should We get
to? The plain truth is that the
so-called command of the seas is
what has given some elementary
unity and order to the world . =
If Gibraltar fell into Nazi hands
it would be the end of the British
Commonwealth because it would cut
our communications both north and
south and to the east. 1t would also
profoundly affect the security be-
hind the Monroe Doctrine. The first
line Of defense of the Monroe
Doctrine has always been the fact
that the principal naval power in
Europe has supported it ever since
the days of the Holy Alliance And
that has meant that the exits from
Europe to the Atlantic. through the
North Sea, the English Channel
past Gibraltar and past the Cape
of Good Hope has been controlled
by a power friendly to the Monroe
system.
At the moment you and We share
sea power between us, as parity
implies. Under present conditions
we are predominant in the At
lantic, you in the Pacific. The
future depends largely upon what.
respectively, we do with our power
each in our own sphere.
In our struggle, unfortunately
We cannot help inf1icting hardships
on neutral nations. The European
neutrals are hit the hardest.
Examination Of Mails
Declared Vital to War.
We realize that when we ex-
anime your mails we cause you irri.
tation and were the positions re-
versed We should no doubt feel a
similar irritation. But l ask YOU
to accept my assurance that ex-
animation of this important cham
mel OF communication with Ger
many is vital part of our eco
nomic warfare which we could not
give up without serious prejudice to
our prosecution of the war. Ger
man trade continues and German
agents are at work trying to defeat
the blockade 1t is of essential i'm
portance everywhere, including this
country, that We should watch the
mails. The examination of mails
is not and will not be used to OBJ
tain information about ordinary
commercial competition and your
private affairs. =
When we come to the question Of
agricultural purchases the situation
is more difficult. We are severely
rationing our own people, as are the
French, partly to reduce = MS r}o-
ton at home, partly to compel say.
ings so that they can be lent to
the government. That means the
reduction of some of our customary
purchases in the United States. On
the other hand we are buying far
more in the United States of Amer
lea than usual. Our purchases in
the first Jear will probably be in
creased by some 100000, 900 over
our average purchases during the
last five years and in the second
year by much higher figure. 80
We are convinced that in the end
we are going to win, though not per-
haps before the world has become
a different place from what 1t is
today. We do not believe that in
dividual freedom can be perma-
nently extinguished or national free
dom permanently destroyed. -"
We shall win because, to quote
words once used by one of your
great Presidents, I'VE stand at
Armageddon and battle for the
Lord"
Teacher Bill Action