The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-09-20
Washington Digest
Armament Manufacturers Realize
Plant Expansion Carries Risks
Reduced Military Appropriations Would Spell Ruin
u S. Foreign Policy Unparalleled; German
War Claims Appear Unsound.

and yet which run absolutely coun-
ter to the supposed desire OF a very
large majority Of the people to keep
out Of war.
Putting it bluntly, and undiplo-
matically, 1t would appear that moth
ing this country may do IL likely
either to get 1t into the war or keep
1t out. That decision, II would ap-
pear from all the known facts, will
be made for US, not by US. It will
be made by Adolf Hitler.
To put II another way, this coun-
try has already done so many things
obviously hostile to Germany, and
designed to aid her enemies, that il
there were any purpose to be served.
Hitler might feel himself justified in
declaring war against the United
States.
On the other hand, Denmark, Nor
way, Belgium, Holland and Luxem-
bourg never did the slightest thing
to irritate the Germans, yet they
were crushed without warning and
In violation of the most solemn trea-
ty promises.
So 1t would seem that Hitler de-
cides what countries he will fight
The other countries either fight or
do not fight, as he determines.
Unnsutral Acts Haue
Approval Of Majority
All Of which would seem to make
the arguments of the isolationists
rather technical. We are commit
ting acts which in other times would
be branded as acts of war. For ex-
ample, the original idea of q "neu-
trality PATROL" which justified the
recommissioning Of the World war
destroyers. For example, the re-
peal Of the arms embargo while q
war was actually In progress. For
example, the more recent virtual
alliance with Canada, which q at
war with Germany.
And this is topped of with the de-
livery to the British Of the so de-
stroyers, with guns and ammuni-
ton aboard, which has long been
predicted in these dispatches. Con-
slider also the fact that q joint Brit
ish and American committee will
select the precise sites for the new
military and air bases in British
possessions!
And all this in the midst of a
presidential campaign, with the can
didates OF both major parties actu-
ally approving the results accom-
pIished-even IL the opposition OBJ
jects to the manner in which they
are done-and with minorities in
both parties very unhappy, but I'm.
able politically to do anything.
German War Claims
Require Discounting
Nearly every news commentator
is constantly telling the public that
there is no way Of being sure what
ID happening in Europe behind the
veil OF censorship. Naturally there
Is no denying the truth of this fire.
quently repeated statement, but
there are certain things which sim
ply MUST be so.
The main point is, as this Is writ
ten, that the Nazis have not yet
conquered Britain. No censorship
could hide that, IL II were already
an accomplished fact.
1t Is matter of simple arith-
metic, now that so much time has
elapsed since the heavy air fighting
over Britain began, that the Ger
man claims simply could not have
been anything like accurate because
their exaggeration lie obvious.
This does not mean that the Brit
ish are winning. Certainly the Brit
ish censorship prevents our getting
an accurate picture of that. For
example, ii may well be that the
Nazi bombing of Britain is succeed
ing in destroying British airplane
and munitions works. We do not
know. We only know that the Brit
ish contend that 80 far the bomb
ings have not accomplished any
thing in slowing down the British
war production.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill
told the house of commons several
weeks ago that British airplans pro-
duction, plus what they were bring
ing IN, was now equal to German
airplane production. He did not de-
ny that the Germans still had great
superiority in number of fighting
and bombing planes, but predicted
that this superiority would decline
from then on.
This Of course will depend on sew
ersl factors. One il whether the
German raiders are able to destroy
British sirplane plants. Another In
whether submarines, mines and Ger
man planes can curb British imports
of airplanes.
AS long as the British can keep
on fighting in the air, 1t Is obvious
that the Germans are not accom-.
pliohina thar eel oAl--A.