Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-12-28
The Real Issue

fairly general oSiee'iiSiit ulal Nt~
limited States had made up its mind
to aid Britain while aid would be
worth something, a movement IS
getting WILL under way to frus-
trate the program. The basis of OPP
position is determination to stay
out of the war, and with that thesis
there will be abundant accord.
It seems t. us 4 broad Qualification
If war aims would be in good taste
in the present dilemma. That would
3nply alike to Germany, Great Brit
nm and the United States. AS for
Germany. about everything Hitler
has ever set forth could be summed
mo in the brief overall cOVerage Of
domination OF Europe and large
mart. if n,t all. the world. which, to
accomplish. means defeat and subju-
cation of Britain. Dritain'S chief aim
is to crush HitleriSm, and that
means. IN substance. return to pre-
var StatuS. Americas stew ana stir
looks toward achievement Of 4 goal
of preservation Of democracy, feat
which embraces Englaud'S salvation
rs we'll as cur own, and without
which we shall not. according to the
general conception of things, con-
t;nue TO be free.
There are so many angles to the
complex situation that it admits Of
confusion Of purpose and effort, and,
II lsaSt here in this country, we are
running around in rings trying to
evolve workable plan that will get
the results required in the briefest
possible time.
1t is possible. we think, to state
the real issue conciSely. We in
America feel that our future and our
fortunes are at stake in the ultimate
fate of Britain. We are fairly
agreed that Britain cannot alone and
without our help in some very tam
sible manner win this war. We
wish to give her every assistance
possible short of war;. But in
launching on that course one step
quickly leads to another, until pres
entity we shall realize that about
aid 10 Britain will be interpreted by
Germany as an unfriendly and hos
tile attitude, resulting sooner or
later-probably sooner-in overt
acts by the nazis that will so anger
The American people that actual
war will become inevitable.
Americans must, then, make up
their minds as to whether or not
they are willing in the end to be-
come an active combatant, if it
comes to that They must, too, try
to answer to their own satisfaction
the question of whether or not they
shall be capable of defending their
own country alone against the total
itarian world if aid to Britain is
withheld and Britain goes under.
Either course is a gamble. A de-
cision one way or the other is ines
capable. That is the real issue with
which we are as nation confront
ed at this moment. And what we
do we must do quickly. If we con-
clude our best interests lies in total
aid T. England. it must be given
speedily. If we prefer the alterna-
tive of genuine neutrality, which
means hands off, the necessity still
exists OF arming and preparing to
the utmost. That also must be ac-
complished as rapidly as is humanity
possible.
The people of the United States
expect. and have a right to expect,
clear, decisive, definite and frank
statement of truth from President
Roosevelt in his address tomorrow
night as to what the precise situa-
ton is. He owes it to his people
to state the case with the utmost
candor. 1t will then be theirs to
make the momentous decision for
themselves, and it must be made
without pickering or delay.