Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-08-12
Warships for Britain

from the STANDPOINT VI liSN'A ca
ity, which for the United States IS
and long has been a joke, we can
see little difference in selling Great
lBritain fifty-odd old destroyers be-
longing to the navy and in selling her
81 the war planes, munitions and
other ;r,nlt n ats that go into the
defense ... Germany. There is
a techu;,st.;> lnvo!' ed, in that the
destroyers O." the property of the
government and would be sold by
the government, whereas the ether
machines and supplies are be-
ing made and sold by private con-
Germs. cit with the consent and
the n.r>>,aG of the government.
The r..y hazard we can think OF
in the proposed transaction lies in
the certainty of mourning greater
anger OF Germany and italy. and,
whether we sell Britain these old
deStroyerS or not. the two dictator
countries will be influenced but lit
tie toward variation one way or the
ether of any plans they may have,
now or in the future, to attempt To
exercise influence or control over
the life and activities of This nation.
Denials from Berlin and Rome of
any design on the Western HemiS-
phere go for naught here. where no
confidence is repoSed in either OF
them as to the integrity OF their
declarations. And the only thing that
would deter them from inroads
Among nations of the Americas, as
Stunning as fact that they have
such in mind. would be the ability OF
Britain to hold out successfully
"GainSt them.
1t follows, therefore. that our fate
:, IN large measure linked with that
-, lie British Isles. If the expected
iuvaSion can be frustrated. We shall
be o. because Of it. If it sue
ceeGs. Germany and Italy will do
no no 'Mure 70 this country because
of our wing furnished Britain
these o., dcstroyerS than they will
prChaoIy attempt even if we with
hold them. Ambitions Of Herr
S., q. lcreel for world domina-
TO. Ill 20, be determined by the
disposition Of fifty warships.
We in .,merica have but little con-
ception OF what it would mean for
democracy and for the world for
Britain e.. go under. Western civil
ization will be menaced seriously if
that happens and the world will be
poorer in many respects. Brute
force and war will be glorified, race
prejudice and rational hatreds cul-
tivated. tn ideals of paganiSm sub
Stituted tor those of Christianity, and
free men made slaves"
Germany'S blockade of the British
Isles has not yet become seriously
effective, but their food supply is
definitely endangered, and this could
in the extreme make complete victory
possible for Hitler. Moreover, if the
dictators should receive any sub
stantial part of the British navy,
every American can easily compre-
bend the extremely dangerous posi-
ton this country would be in.
Sale of fifty destroyers to Britain
might NJ a: re her of victory, but
it WOE = very materially. 1t
would ~. ..,t;en our position, to
speak Of, a.~otdin' to experts, and
would make us bW i:tle less neutral
lIIeiIl we oil S>'Sdy g I. IL li-'SS iIe'ii
hundred warShips could postpone
British rllapSe - assuming that
ev.2t .. in the end-it would at
lea ~,>r IS that much more time
to build our own derenses, and in
this game we are now playing, every
day, every hour even, counts in
very real way.
We believe delivery of these war
ships to Britain would meet with the
approval of large majority of
Americans. The President is under
God to favor it, along with prob
ably a wide margin in Congress.
Then, what are we waiting for? Next
week or next month could be too
late.