The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-11-15
A STATEMENT BY WILLIAM
ALLEN WHITE

The Nazis must not be permitted
to escape the entire blame for the
plight of a Europe hungry and
threatened with disease. The re-
sponsibility is solely theirs for hav-
ing conquered and paralyzed and
looted these countries, disrupted
their economy and appropriated their
food-stuffs, demolished their pro-
cessing machinery and wrecked their
system of distribution. American
public opinion must not be maneuv-
cred into a position where its SYM
pathy for the conquered countries Of
Europe can be used by Germany
falsely to fasten any of the blame
for this barbarism on Britain. Fur
thermore, the American public must
be aware of the danger that their
humanitarian instincts can be used
as front for appeasement propa-
ganda. Let Germany come to the
world admitting her guilt and I'M
doing the economic evils Of her
savage pillage before she asks for
help from America.
In response to the heartbreaking
appeal for food for suffering Europe
this winter, one principle must be
laid down. Under no circumstances
should American public opinion
urge the British to weaken their
blockade. The blockade is one of
Britian's weapons for the final de-
feat of the aggressors, AS such, it
is a weapon for American defense
as we'll. The blockade is a matter of
military tactics and in this war Eng
land has right to ask and America
to insist that such tactics come first,
and must be continued until the
Germans have undone the wrongs
they have visited upon these con-
quered peoples and have pledged and
fulfilled their pledges to give back
the stolen food Germany has taken
as the booty of her ruthless invas-
ions.
In the second place, we must real
ize that we are facing an entirely
different situation than in the last
war Only in the final year Of that
conflict and then only to a limited
degree did Germany attempt to force
conquered peoples to produce mater
ials for her support. Now, under
systematic enslavement and compul-
sion, Germany is forcing the peo-
pies of occupied an dominated coun-
tries to produce for her munitions,
ships, planes and other supplies.
These will be used in an effort to
destroy England and to threaten us.
We cannot afford to feed popula-
lions who are engaged in producing
the means of threatening our safety.
And it will be extremely difficult ii
not impossible to feed any part of
the populations which Germany con-
trolls without running the risk OF
indirect diversions which will have
the effect of strengthening Germany
through those who must do her bid
ding. For our own sakes and the
sakes of our wives and children we
should not take the risk.
Every ounce of food that is sent
to the occupied areas not only re-
lieves the pressure on Germany, but
makes her better able to conscript
the populations of the dominated
areas for the production of war ma
terials.
Having announced these principles
and its intention to stand by them,
the Committee to Defend America
by Aiding the Armies hopes that
Britain will take the initiative in pre-
senting a plan that would clearly
fasten the blame and the burden for
Europe's hunger on Germany.
Winston Churchill has already
proposed that stocks of food be col
lected and made ready for Europe
when freed Furthermore, whenever
the British upon their own initia7
tive, announce exception to the rule
of a general blockade and indicate
where food or medical supplies safely
can be scent, the American people
should eagerly take advantage of
such exceptions, providing the adj
ministration of such relief can be
made by American officials. There
may be cases where the psychology
cal advantage of permitting medical
and food supplies to parts of Europe
would outweigh any advantage
which Germany might receive. But
today we believe that judgment OF
such situation should be entirely
in the hands of the British.