Evening star., 1940-07-17

nation, Mr.. Wendell L. Willkie,
uttered no warning or advice to his
newly-made Republican brethern on
the subject Of national defense. He
was probably too busy talking about
balancing the budget and trying to
prevent the efforts Of the Securities
and Exchange Commission to un-
scramble his billion dollar utility
holding company omelet, and en-
deavor to thwart the objective of
the great Tennessee Valley project
which was begun ~ years ago as
4 part Of our national defense pro-
gram.
And Is late as last Thursday in
the House Of Representatives, when,
at the urgent request and recon-
mendation Of William r. Knudsen
and Edward Stettinius, member of
the Advisory Committee on National
Defense, and also at the urgent
solicitation Of Mr.. Dunn, a member
Of the engineering firm which Mr..
Willkie consulted in hts fight against
the Tennessee Valley Authority, an
effort was made to provide for the
construction Of an additional dam
for the purpose Of inaugurating
the speedy manufacture of neces-
sary aluminium for the construction
OF airplanes, the effort was blocked
by Republican members of the
House of Representatives.
In spite of these unfortunate rec
ords made by those whom the people
have trusted, am convinced that
the vast majority Of Republican
voters Of the Nation are in full
agreement with the President and
those who are working with him on
his defense program and on his
foreign policy.
Mr.. Roosevelt's Efforts
To Avert War Recalled.
But what of our involvement in
war? ~
The Republican platform me-
chanics have sought to conceal their
own past attitude and record by
proclaiming themselves as simon
pure, 100 per cent, blown -in-the
bottle preservers of peace for the
American people.
No man who ever occupied the
presidency of the United States ever
strove more valiantly to avert the
present war in Europe before its
outbreak than did Mr.. Roosevelt.
No man ever condemned in more
unmeasured terms the wicked de-
termination to resort to the brutal
force of arms in conquering peace
full and friendly nations, or in set
Ting any legitimate controversies
among the nations of Europe.
No political party or administra-
ton in the history of this or any
nation ever made greater sacrifices
to avoid involvement in war than
have been made by the Democratic
party and its present administra-
ton.
For more than a century we, as
a nation, have insisted on the free
dom of the seas. We have insisted
that our flag and every flag had
the right to sail the seas in time of
war, subject to certain rights of
search and seizure We have in
sisted on the right of Americans
to trade and travel under an in
ternational law that had been rec
ognized for centuries. 1t was our
insistence on the observance of these
rights that finally drew us into the
World War In 1917
Neutrality Law and Credit
Restrictions Are Cited.
But in order to avoid the possibil-
ity or likelihood of our involvement
in this war through incidents in
capable Of being foreseen, we have,
in the neutrality law recommended
by the President and enacted by a
Democratic Congress over the pro-
test Of the Republicans, prohibited
American ships to sail in belligerent
or dangerous waters or American
citizens to travel there, and we have
prohibited even the granting of
credit to belligerent nations and
required them to pay cash for what
they buy and to transport it in
their own or other foreign vessels.
If the Republicans in Congress
had been successful in defeating this
legislation We might already be in
volved in the war which they pre-
tend so much to fear.
But. Notwithstanding the puny ef-
forts of our antagonists to pitch this
campaign on the low level Of narrow
partisanship, in the task that lies
ahead of us there Is no room foi
partisan rancor or personal aggran-
dizement.
1t serves no purpose now to blame
one man or group for not knowing
in advance what the world was COM
ing to. But we, with all the world,
have learned our bitter lesson. The
events Of recent years have brought
changes in our thought and attitude
which may be irrevocable. New OBJ
legations fasten themselves upon us
as Nation and as a member of the
sisterhood of nations.
In 1928, James Monroe proclaimed
the doctrine which bears his name.
Under that doctrine any effort on
the part Of any foreign nation to
gain foothold in America was to be
regarded as an unfriendly act and
inimical to our safety.
That doctrine is even more vital
today than when it was uttered