Evening star., 1940-06-10

lhe BRUSH HeeJ ~ "
will be operated from Canada or
whether some overt act by Nazl
fifth columnists will imperil Amer
lean interests in the Caribbean or
in the vicinity of the Canal Zone,
the fact remains that American par
ticipation in some form in the
worldwide struggle to preserve free
government from sudden attacks
by aggressors may be expected. To
avoid a prolonged debate and to
permit our armed forces to repel
attack, authority will be sought
from Congress to meet any act of
undeclared war from any quarter,
Before the end of the present
summer the whole policy of the
United States toward active par
ticipation in the world conflict may
change Nobody can foretell the
place at which the Nazis will begin
their attempts to paralyze Amer
1an industrial production and to
Illustrate American help to the AL
lies. If the Allies are deciSivelv
beaten this summer the American
policy will nevertheless be one of
vigorous preparation for an eventual
challenge a year or two hence. If,
on the other hand, the Allies show
signs of holding out through the
autumn, definite steps may be looked
for to make American help instant
ly effective.
Italy's Entrance in War.
The entrance of Italy into the
war may be the deciding factor in
which has been on friendly terms
with the United States will be
plunging a nation into war for no
other reason except selfish desire
to participate in the spoils. Such
a government will not be regarded
hereafter as potential friend OF
the United States. Slgnor Musso-
lini may be thinking only of what
he has promised Herr Hitler, but
the entrance of Italy into the war
will commit Mussolini to position
from which he never will be able
to extricate himself so far as the
United States is concerned. If the
crusade which will be organized
some day throughout Latin America
and in the United States for the
rescue of the presently to be en-
slaved states grows to the proper
tions that it well may before the
year is out, the slogan of such a
crusade may be to rid the world of
dictators and this will mean the
elimination of Mussolini as we'll as
Hitler as the price of peace.
It is to be expected that the
prophecy of Winston Churchill will
come true. He said the war would
not be over if France were COM
PEELED to surrender or if England
were occupied because the free
states of the British Empire in the
New World would keep on fighting.
He did not predict specifically
American help, but the military and
naval situation arising from a
British defeat, especially the pos
sible conversion of the British fleet
Into a German sea arm, would make
America an inevitable partner in
the crusade to regain for the world
the liberties that will have been
lost for millions of people in the
democratic countries of Europe If
America can build $4,000 planes in
q couple of years, it can build more
planes and train more pilots In
three years and if the British feet
comes under Canadian jurisdic-
ton. it is reasonable to assume that
the biggest expeditionary force the
Dpn Mi
under protected air fleet to be
Joined some day by willing popula-
tlons in the conquered countries.
Fateful Moments.
These are fateful moments which
the whole Government here realizes
are shaping the history of mankind
for centuries to come. There are
still some groups who wish to debate
national policy from 1888 appease-
ment viewpoint But the general
drift is toward protection of Amer
lean interests by using any effective
means of keeping the war from COM
Ing over to this hemisphere. Aid
to the Allies will be increased and
before very long compulsory mill
tary training will be authorized here
together with authority to apply
conscription.
America may hold her powder until
she sees the whites of the enemy's
eyes but the demand of the Nation,
as reflected in manifestations of
public opinion from coast to coast is
to waste no time arguing about the
need for the largest Army, the larg-
est Navy and the largest air force
that can be built in the shortest
possible time. This means sacrifices
on every side by every group and
every party-concessions to the de-
fense program which before the
summer is over will overshadow
everything else in the country as the
Nation. reluctant to 60 to war. pre-
pares for sudden war on any front.
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