Evening star., 1940-05-17

that America
build an air
force equal to if David Lawrence.
not larger than any other in the
world. Congress by its applause
from all sides showed clearly that it
Is interpreting national opinion
which at the moment wants no ex-
pense spared to make America Sc
cure against attack from any
quarter.
But there is deeper implication
about the Presidents program. He
makes it plain that sometimes the
best defense is an offense and hence
he urges an air force that can
go overseas and repel attack from
any bases that might be established
in the Azores or on the African
Coast.
The President, furthermore, has
called for a production schedule Tor
air planes which will make possible
the rapid flow of airplanes in such
quantities that the allies can buy
them and use them up instantly
while the later and better models
are being prepared for our own use
at such time as America may really
need them.
Emphasizes Airplanes.
Plainly the President emphasizes
that while the spectacular weapon
in use abroad-the airplane-must
be supplied in greater and greater
quantities for our own use, planes
grow obsolete quickly and the Amer
lean factories can sell their output
Of the immediate future to the
allies.
Mr.. fsooscveit said nothing con-
ereteD abos.t helping the allies. He
did xSk simply that no delays be
inteyposed In the way Of sending
or selling Americas planes to for
eign governments. He did not have
to specify which governments. The
two things work in together, ma
tional defense and the development
Of . higher production schedule for
the benefit of Britain and France
To enable such tremendous in
crease in .aiplane production to
be attained in America, present
facilities will have to be expanded
Private capital hesitates to take
the risks involved especially since
the moment peace is declared there
may be cancellation of orders.
So the American Government comes
along with . plan to furnish con-
tract obligations which will enable
the private companies to build up
their plants. relying on the fulfill
ment OF orders for planes for our
own defense program.
Some such coordination of the
allied purchases and the need Of
our own air. force has to be worked
out and 1t can only be done through
hexibility given the Army and Navy
to make contracts and assist plants
which will be glad to expand or
turn over their existing facilities
TO Government work.
Meets Public Opinion.
Mr.. Roosevelt has taken the first
steps toward meeting the public
opinion of the hour-bigger and
better air forces for the democra-
cies as against the dictatorship
states, He said nothing in his
speech to Congress about our en-
tering the war but made it clear
in an implicit sense that the Amer
lean Nation was ready to sacrifice
lives if necessary "for maintenance
Of American liberties"
The Presidents announcement
that the United States intends to
protect by force any attack on
any nation in this hemisphere is
the familiar reiteration of the Nom
roe Doctrine but it comes at a time
when the defense experts have been
saying that our air force could not
protect even the Panama Canal
against mass attacks from the West
Coast Of Africa or the islands ad-
jacent thereto.
America now is headed for huge
expansion Of economic facilities to
meet the needs of the allies who will
purchase more supplies and planes
and also the needs Of the Army,
Navy and air forces Of the United
States.
Doesn't Deter Defense.
There are some observers who be-
Heve the war will be over before
Americas help can be felt In Europe.
But this is not deterring the ad-
ministration or the Congress because
II the Nazis are to dominate Europe,
the general feeling here is that the
defense program is more than ever
necessary to ward off surprise at
tacks from a government whose as
surarlces aren't worth the paper they
are written on and whose ruthless
ness as against innocent countries
is merely a routine part of the pas
sion for conquest.
The President spoke hopefully to
Congress of peace in Europej but in
the background was the probability
OF prolonged war as an inevitable
consequence Of Nazi successes. Al
ready the Chief Executive has begun
to emphasize on behalf of America
the spirit Of free people" and
the sacrifices they would make to
maintain their way OF life. Pos
sibly Mussolini and Hitler or their
ieutenants were listening in. And
significantly enough the President
closed his address with q spiritual
note-the great need for faith in
God in these times Of Trouble and
anxiety throughout the world. These
days are truly reminiscent Of 1917.
Reproduction RiEhts Rsserved.)
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