The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-07-18

| position, Tor all OF the evidence con-
corning the state of our equipment
indicates that the country is in no
position to engage in war with any
nation.
There is a necessary qualification
to the announcement against en-
gaging in foreign war. This is in the
declaration that the country shall
uphold the Monroe Doctrine.
Whether the country wills it or not,
a literal performance of this pledge
may compel the United States to en-
gage in war. At the moment no one
can say whether or not the Monroe
Doctrine is a rule or principle Of
such powerful appeal or fundamen-
tai Importance that the American
people will decide to fight for it in
a showdown.
The plank does express the SYM
pathy of the people for those ma
tions that have been the victim IF
aggression, and it proposes to supply
to these nations all aid that is posi-
BILE under international law. Again,
it may be asked, what other position
could be taken? If the government
should go beyond international law
1t would, in fact, approach the stat
us of a belligerent. The Johnson
Act, forbidding loans to governments
in default on World War debt, and
the cash and carry provisions of the
Neutrality Act may eventually limit
the amount of such aid. For the
present, the allied governments have
ample purchasing power. American
ships carrying goods to those gov
ernments would be liable to search
seizure or sinking if apprehended by
German or Italian war vessels. In
the minds of many, such events
would be provocative, and might end
in getting the country into the war.
Finally, the plank approves the
policy of ample defense prepara-
ton. It Is tragic that the world has
entered upon a maniacal frenzy of
destruction which renders such ac-
ton necessary. But the facts are
now clear to all, and the question
of strengthened national defense is
in no sense political or partisan
issue. It is foregone that the DEM
ocratic platform will propose a sim
liar defense preparation policy.
From this standpoint the defense
policy cancels out as campaign
| issue.
1t is clear that the country has
been negligent on the matter of de-
Tense, and that 1t has been misin-
formed, or inadequately informed,
regarding the growing gravity Of
the international situation. In par
ticular, it has been persuaded to dis
count entirely too heavily the pos
sibility of the loss or destruction Of
the English fleet. The Republican
plank places the responsibility for
this situation upon the present ad-
ministration, but in all truthfulness
1t must be said that a portion of this
responsibility rests with the Repub-
lican members of Congress. Because
they have been minority of each
House, they could not have forced
the enactment of legislation which
would have made more adequate
provision for defense. In this sense,
the majority party must be held
primarily responsible. But neither
Democratic nor Republican leaders
can escape the responsibility of hav-
ing failed to tell the people plainly
and bluntly all of the facts.
The country is now in danger of
being plunged into an orgy of waste
full defense spending to make up for
lost time. Appropriating money is
not enough. The most important
problem is to secure that co-ordina-
ton and cooperation which will as
sure the wisest and most prudent
use of the defense dollar. AS yet,
there Is slight indication that this
requirement viii be met.