Evening star., 1940-12-17
Iowa Editor Heads
Committee Opposing
u. 5. Entry Into War
New Group Is Organized
To Give Voice to Foes
Of Whites Movement
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Dec. Information
of the No Foreign War Committee
was announced today by Verne
Marshall. editor of the Cedar Rapids
CIowa) Gazette, who is chairman of
the new organization.
The purpose of the committee,
statement said, is Ito give articula-
ton to that overwhelming majority
of American citizens which is def
nitely on record as opposed to our
direct physical involvement in the
present war. y"
At its helm, besides Mr.. Marshall,
are o. K. Armstrong, Springfield,
Mo, author, as director of organiZa-
ton, and Robert A. Lancaster, New
York investment bank associate, as
treasurer.
"Watched Trend" to War.
In statement issued after two
day organizational meeting here Mr..
Marshall said:
For months, out in Iowa, I have
watched the development of a psy-
SllOlOSlCdl u SIlu lOWdlQ dCtudl dIlu
physical American participation in
this war
The William Allen White Com
nnittee to Defend America by Aiding
the Allies has done an effective Job
Of originating and developing eX-
actly the same public Psychology as
that which was carefully created
during the war period preceding our
declaration of hostilities in April,
i9l7.
In large measure the success of
the White committee is due to the
lack of opposition to its efforts. The
masses of people who are extremely
fearful of their country's catas-
trophic involvement in the current
phase of Europes incessant warfare
have had no voice with a national
audience.
"It is the purpose of the No For
eign War Committee to provide
that voice, to give articulation to
the hopes and prayers of those in
Vulnerable millions of Americans
who know that if they are dragged
once again into the economic and
political conflicts of the Old World,
pnly complete world chaos can
result"
Favored Defense Measures.
At a press conference today, Mr..
Marshall said:
This committee is in favor of
the present defense measures, but
we want no part of war It's pure
poppycock to say that if Germany
licks Britain they would attack us.
Hitler can't lick us if he gets
here-and he can't get here. If he
has so much trouble crossing %
miles of water, what do you think
Is going to happen when he tries to
cross 5000 miles? He doesn't want
what we have. anyway"
The Iowa editor said that I'VE
might as we'll be subservient to
European nations if we must fight
Europe's economic war"
This war is no more for de-
.mocracy than was the last one" he
added. The neutrality law, which
this committee supports, was sup
posed to protect us against all these
problems. Now they're trying to
repeal it.
"Of course we're in sympathy
with the defense program. We may
we'll be the last democracy; there
fore we must be strong"
He said the committees perma-
nent headquarters would be here or
in Washington, with the majority
of the organizers favoring the latter
city
Worked on Plans for Months.
The statement issued by the
committee said:
For several months Mr.. Arm
strong has been laying the ground
work for the no-foreign-War cam
paign. He has enlisted the CO.
operation of religious, peace, busi-
ness. civic and other groups, with
an aggregate membership, he says,
of about 25,000,000 people. A COM
mittee representing these groups
met in New York Sunday evening
and Monday.
The selection of Mr.. Marshall,
MI. Armstrong and Mr.. Lancaster
as executives of the committee. who
will conduct the drive against the
physical ENHANCEMENT of the United
States in foreign wars, was con-
firmed at the committee sessions.
TT was made plain that no for
eign war campaign will start with
the premise that the United States
needs and must have an impreg-
nable defense, and that aid to Brit
ain is desirable, but it must not
drag this country into war"