The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-30

eminent and our philosophy of gov
eminent.
In view of the nature of this
undeniable threat, it can be assert
ed, properly and categoricaly, that
the United States has no right or
reason to encourage talk of peace,
until the day shall come when
there is a clear intention on the
part of the aggressor nations to
abandon all thought of dominating
or conquering the world.
At this moment, the forces of
the States that are leagued against
all peoples who live in freedom,
are beng held away from our
shores. The Germans and Italians
are being blocked on the other
side of the Atlantic by the British,
and by the Greeks, and by thou
sands of soldiers and sailors who
were able to escape from subju-
gated countries. The Japanese are
being engaged in Asia by the Chi
nese in another great defense.
Vital Concern
In the Pacific is our fleet.
Some of u people like to be-
lleve that wars in Europe and in
Asa are of no oncern to US. But
it is a matter of most vital con-
Germ to us that European and Asia
tic war makers should not gain
control of the oceans which lead
to this hemisphere.
One hundred and seventeen years
ago the Monroe doctrine was con-
ceived by Jul government as a
measure of defense in the face of
a threat against this hemisphere
by an alliance in continental Eu-
rope. Thereafter, we stood on
guard in the Atlantic, with the
British as neighbors. There was
no treaty. There was no 'unwrit-
ten agreement.
Yet, there was the feeling, prov
en- correct by history, that we es
ne.ghbors could settle any dispute
in peaceful fashion. The fact is
that during the whole of this time
the western hemisphere has re-
NAMED free from aggression from
Europe or from Asia.
Does anyone seriously believe
that we need to fear attack while
a free Britain remains our most
powerful naval neighbor in the At
lantic? Does anyone seriously be-
lieve, on the other hand, that we
could rest easy if the Axis powers
were our neighbor there?
If Great Britain goes down, the
Axis powers will control the con-
tinents of Europe, Asia, Africa,
Australia, and the high seas-and
they will be in a position to bring
enormous military and naval re-
sources against this hemisphere. 1t
IS no exaggeration to say that all
of us in the Americas would be liv-
ing at the point Of a gun-a gun
loaded with explosive bullets, eco
nomic as well as military.
Run by Threats
We should enter upon a new and
terrible r in which the whole
world, our hemisphere included,
would be I'll by threats of brute
force. To survive in such a world,
we would have to convert our
selves permanently into a militar-
istic power on the basis of wal
economy.
Some of us like to believe that
even if Great Britain fails, we are
still safe, because Of the broad ex-
panse of the Atlantic and of the
Pacific.
But the width of these oceans is
not what it was in the days of
clipper ships. AT one point between
Africa and Brazil the distance is
less than from Washington to Den
ver-five hours for the latest type
Of bomber. And at the north of
the Pacific ocean America a n d
Asia almost touch each other.
Even today we have planes
which could fly from the British
isles to New England and back
without refueling. And the range