The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-08-15
mterDenti0nists!
Edward J. Ryan Answers Herbert S. Smiths
Appeal to Scrap Present Neutrality Act to Help
Great Britain - U. S. Risking War in Needless
Gesture of Friendship.

A few evenings ago, Herbert
S. Smith, General Secretary of
the Waterbury Y. M. CA. in a
public letter published in The
Democrat, urged Congress to
scrap the present neutrality act
and supply Great Britain with all
the aid necessary to win the war.
Tonight Edward ]. Ryan, chair
man of the Committee to Keep
America Out of Foreign Wars, an
swers MIR. Smiths contentious in
the following letter:
Editor, Waterbury Democrat:
Ordinarily I would not bother
to answer the statements made by
Herbert S. Smith in the columns
of your publication. But because
the subject Of which he wrote is
Of great importance it is well
that this letter be given the same
consideration as that shown Mr..
Smiths.
1t is not the "Isolationist" who
Is the enemy of this country. In
stead it is the interventionist, the
man and woman who is really try
ing to get America into this war.
The interventionist dares not
come out in the open and ask us
to declare war on Germany and
Italy. No, they don't operate in
that manner. They operate under
subterfuge and under such catchy
phrases as "Aid Short of War;"
consider the interventionist
the real enemy of my country,
whether he be an interventionist
pleading for help for Great Bri-
tain, Germany or Italy. We must
remember the fifth column and
the trojan horses do not belong to
any one set of belligerents, they
belong to all belligerents. I say
that any man or woman who
wants to lead this country into
war, through subterfuge, or any
other means, is our real enemy.
Powerful Propaganda
America is neutral nation,
supposedly at peace with the
world-yet there is powerful prop
uganda sweeping our country for
the purpose of dragging us into
the war, which experts still main
tain is none of our business.
The present day interventionists
do not operate in the open. They
dare not take public stand on
intervention except at one of
their rallies. They dare not come
out in public debate where the
general public can see and hear
them.
There is one point I want to
bring out here, it is this: We
have been hearing a great deal
about England fighting for democ-
racy. For the sake of the record
we should get that matter
Strengthened out once and for all.
There are no facts to support the
claim that England is fighting for
Democracy. The occasion of their
entry into the war was allegedly
to aid Poland. Poland has never
been Democracy. 1t was die
tatorship. So was Germany. The
war was between two dictator
ships. 1t is obviously false to say
Britain entered the war to defend
Democracy where none existed.
By the same token it is well to
note that when Finland, with bet
ter title to the term Democracy,
was attacked, Britain did not
make war on Russia. I could 60 on
making a sham of the term
Democracy as employed by Bril-
tain, but 1t might be we'll to get
back to American Neutrality.
Seeks Repeal
Mr.. Smith, speaking for the in
asks for the repeal
Of the un-neutral neutrality act
The people who understand any
part Of international law and
eople who use their common in
telligence will admit that our
present neutrality law Is the only
thing that has kept America out
Of this war. That Is why the In
terventionists want 1t repealed
70 we will be In the war.
Interventionists fail to UNDER
stand what our military experts
nave been telling the United
States Congress which Is simply
his, America need fear no inva-
Iion from q European country 81
100 or 5000 miles away. Our mill
AIRY experts tell as that bombers
oaded with bombs can only ny
100 miles IN one direction without
stunning 10 refuol. Then how In