Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-09
BY HUGH s. JOHNSON

THIS question of conveys was
l. essentially settled when the
lease-lend bill was passed in its
particularly subtle form.
1t almost certainly meant con-
voys. Conveys almost certainly
mean war. This was not made
clear to our people. In fact, it
was obscured.
In my testimony before the
House foreign affairs committee
/ made that point and opposed
mot such aid to Britain as
would help defend America-but
those provisions of the act
which would not strengthen,
but would weaken American
defense and would make us re-
sponsible for any English world
strategy to preserve the British
Empire regardless of its effect
on our defense.
Just now we are about TO reap
the logical consequences of the
bill in the form il passed. We
are going TO convoy regardless
of its almost certain result of
war II that were a question of
trying to insure delivery of the
goods TO the British Isles. I
could not oppose it, because |
believe that. contrary TO my
opinion. representatives of the
people in our democracy over
whelmingly approved it.
QUT I think they were not
- fully or frankly advised then
and are not being fairly advised
now. All the advocates of our
immediate involvement in war
now stress only what they call
the battle of the Atlantic"
We are to convoy goods 10 the
British Isles TO defend them
from an invasion and as an
advanced base for us in the
Atlantic TO keep that ocean free
of challenge to our shores. Is
that what We are about to do?
That is what Secretary Slim
sons sincere and measured APP
peal for war says. But that is
not what Secretary Anthony
Eden told the House of Com
mons. That is not what Senator
Pepper told our Senate.
Mr.. Eden wants United
States war materials" TO reach
''the battlefield in Asia. Africa
and Europe" He said he wei
coined the immense step forward
by the u. S. A. in deciding to
send ships TO the Red Sea"
Senator Pepper wants US TO
bottle up the japanese navy
ana seize parts of Africa at the
same time. He suggests that
we could begin on Japan and
with so American bomberS
make a shambles out of Toxic"
He vaguely hints that some Of
those bombers are on the way.
WHAT have these urgings.
w whether Of Eden or Pepper.
got TO do with the defense of
America in the battle of the
Atlantic? The only argument /
ever heard was that if we
entered naval warfare in the
Atlantic il would release add
tional British aircraft 10 battle
in the eastern Mediterranean.
But how would that help us
In the Atlantic? What would il
do to our naval defense in the
Pacific? II would. of course.
give US a bigger danger mot
lesser one) in the Atlantic. II
would embark us in a two-ocean
war with a one-ocean navy. and
so impair our present impreg-
nable defensive position in the
Pacific.
How is that defending Amer
ica's ocean barriers? OF course
il isn't. 1t is buttering our
neager RESOURCES roo thin over
the whole face of the globe. 1t
may be true that this is because
the British Empire in all the
continents is already buttered
too thin TO defend itself every
where. but that is not our fault
and it is not our obligation.
IT MAY be that the British
L would shorten their lines to
increase their defense. That is
their business-not ours. Neither
is their failure to do so any
reason for us to extend our lines
beyond the limits of prudent
defense.
We seem TO have assumed
responsibility for the British
Isles and for aid 10 the British :
navy in the Atlantic Ocean. We
did that solely on the argument
that il would defend US and as
sumed no obligation beyond that.
But who is going TO decide our
part in this impending war
Winston Churchill for Britain or
Franklin Roosevelt for the
u. S. A? That is the real ques-
ton at this juncture and not
all this name-calling and YAM
ming over incidental issues.
distributed by King Features Synd.. Inc. /
Ia, IL