Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-08

in the midst of the terrific battle between
Germany and Britain there are peace
thoughts" both in London and in Berlin.
Those reports which have come to the
attention of this writer do not emanate
from British, German, Italian or French
sources; neither are they the product of
imaginative analysis. They have been
conveyed to Washington from purely
American sources. While this writer
cannot vouch for their correctness, and
while they may be described as defeatism
or propaganda, the sources are so wholly
reliable as to justify their publication.
The British are disgruntled because
they have to fight single-handed the
powers of the axis. By the British it is
not meant to indicate the rank and file,
but certain important upper sections.
This dissatisfaction is not voiced publicly
But in private conversations a number
of high-ranking naval officers are dis
appointed-to say the least-at the time
the United States has taken in handing
over those so average destroyers. The
Admiralty knew that these ships could
be spared by the United States Navy.
Churchill went out of his way to help
the administration to transfer the de-
stroyers to the empire. He agreed to
lease" naval and air bases to this coun-
try-an unprecedented action in the his
tory of the British Empire.
Destroyer Deal Late.
All that Britain wanted in exchange
for the time being at least-was those
average ships which she considers es-
sential for her defense when and if the
Germans are in a position to start their
landing operations. The opposition of
those who have delayed this transfer has
set some of the high-ranking Britishers
to grousing. Although the destroyers
have now been released, the effect of the
delay and the struggle to obtain them
has worried many people in key positions
in London.
In these quarters new thought has
been born: Are we fighting now the
battle for Uncle Sam? Is Uncle Sam
placidly expecting the United Kingdom
to go down so that our fleet should be
free to go and defend the AtI-atic side
of the Western Hep.sphcre? And they
shake their heads and wonder whether
Britain is not let down for selfish pur-
poses"
The same doubts prevail in many lead
ing industrial quarters. The British in
dustrialists and many prominent leaders
in the city opposed war until last sum-
mer. Mr.. Chamberlain's appeasement
policies were their own. They became
strong partisans of the war when they
lost their gamble on a revolution by the
German Army taking place if orders to
march into Poland were given, and have
played their part unf1inchingly.
Factories Devastated.
But what are they saying now? A
number of British factories-the pride
of Great Britain-are reduced to ashes
by the German Stukas. Although no
details of the damages inflicted by the
German incendiary bombs are given to
the public, it is known that the great
arms factory near Bristol has been Sc
verely damaged. So has the Rolls Royce
factory and many others of less world
wide fame, in the Midlands. The British
docks and harbors on the east coast also
have suffered so severely that, were peace
signed tomorrow, long months must
elapse before they could be restored.
The financial consequences of the bonn
bardment of the United Kingdom up to
date are never mentioned officially be-
cause finance is not regarded as an i'm
portant item while the war is in progress,
and the main thing is to win it. But
those cool heads who figure everything
internationally now estimate that already
the three weeks of aerial warfare have
cost the British billions in property dam
age. And the mistrusting British in
dustrialiSts and financiers wonder with
the admirals whether Uncle Sans heart
is bleeding at the thought that Britain's
industrial supremacy is disappearing in
flames and smoke
Some cynical gentlemen 60 so far as
to say that once Britain's industrial and
financial power is paralyzed, Uncle Sam
might come to an understanding with
the much-hated Hitler at the expense
OF the British Empire. They refuse to
believe that the American economic sys-
tenn cannot dovetail with the totali-
tartan; that we cannot accept the barter
system as our national economic policy
because there is little we can accept in
exchange for our products. The only
thing they see is the destruction of Brit
ish industries and the increase of those
in the United States, So, say these men,
why not come to an understanding with
the Germans before all our plants are
reduced to rubble?
Business Interests Worried.
There are more than a few British
magnates who are of the opinion that
because BritainS industrial and fnan-
cial structure is all shot to pieces, it
would possibly be to the country's best
advantage to reconstruct it so as to dove
tail with the totalitarian economic phi
losophy rather than see it all smashed
beyond repair. These thoughts are
strengthened by reports the British ty-
coons get from certain important bust
ness quarters In New York which are