Evening star., 1940-06-17
Public Held Ready
For Real Defense
National Leaders Urged to
Formulate Definite
Program Now
To the Editor of The Star:

Program Now
10 the Editor of The Star:
Perhaps the greatest weakness OF q
democracy is indecision. Actions of the
political body are controlled by the
collective mind of the people. Decision
is determined by public reaction toward
impending measures.
During times of peace the public mind
is prone to become sluggish and COM
placent-Witness the unpreparedness Of
France and England in the face of the
swiftly expanding military power OF
Germany. And this complacency per-
sisted In spite Of the fact that Germany
began her threatening gestures as early
as 1888 when the Rhineland was oc-
cupied by force that could have been
summarily annihilated by the French.
Even at that early date Hitler was
shrewd enough to gamble on the in
decision of the democracies.
The collective mind is deeply con-
cerned with moral issues. This line OF
reasoning led to Englands failure to
reach an understanding with Russia
and allowed Hitler to engineer the
greatest diplomatic coup in history
English people were prejudiced against
Russian moral standards and the
Russian form of government. This same
moral squeamishness has led us to q
serious rift with Japan because of her
Chinese conquest and led to strained
relations with Italy over the invasion
OF Ethlopia-although most of us had
not heard of Ethiopia since our gram
mar school days
Our lack of a military or foreign
policy may be directly attributed to our
scruples regarding militarism. We failed
to give c. c. c. boys even the rudiments
OF soldering and have always been
Mortified at any mention of conscription
or compulsory military training. Hence,
with mere plcayune army scattered
throughout the country at political mill
tary posts, we have had nothing upon
which to base definite military policy.
Our foreign policy has been strictly
transltory, depending on the whims of
the party In power and public reaction
to the territorial conquests of other
nations.
Only our great national resources
prevent our short sighted complacency
from proving fatal at this critical time.
With the public mind shocked out of its
apathy by the holocaust in Europe, the
way is cleared for definite and even
drastic remedial action which, fortu-
no tal ycr IL 10
because of our great natural and in
dustrial resources. The extent to which
the Nation Is aroused can be measured
by the popular demand for tax increases
to support the armament program.
After years of viewing with alarm our
national debt and objecting to any
proposed scheme of taxation, this sudden
about-face is certainly significant.
II one attempted to analyze this will
lngness to pay, it might be correct to
label it an unmistakabe gesture of con-
foence IN our political leaders The
people are willing to back up whatever
the administration deems necessary to
meet great national emergency.
Thus our statesmen are furnished a
great and unusual opportunity to act
minus the political circumlocution that
is customary in ordinary times.
1t would probably develop that we are
not now SO fastidious regarding friendly
relations with Japan
Some plan OF selective draft or COM
pulsory military training could be
launched now without great public
objection. Since such measures Will
ultimately become necessary, much can
be gained by utilizing more time for
trial and perfection of the essential
processes
military policy could and should be
clearly outlined. The people have
shown themselves willing to pay and
are entitled to know what they are
paying for. What is to be the extent
Of our defense of the Western Hemi-
sphere? Where are our defenses to be
located? What are we defending
against? What activities of other
nations IN the Western Hemi-
sphere shall we consider prejudicial to
our vital interests? Citizens who bear
the expense of preparations are en-
titled to have these questions answered.
The habits of lifetime have gained
a strong hold on our statesmen. With
the way cleared for action and the
people waiting anxiously for a clear-cut
statement of methods and detectives,
the politicians continue to send up trial
balloons to test public reaction to vital
measures. RODNEY GEORGE.
June 13.