Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-25
Reds at War
Put New Light
On Principle
Irony Of Helping Nation
Plotting Our Downfall
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

And now many OF the old slo-
gans and much of the old propa-
ganda must be turned inSideout
and faced to the rear
About faithful little Finland"
over whom we were so recently
SOLDERING in emotional ecstasy,
forgiving debts and forwarding
funds, il is now a question
whether she isn't an ally OF I'M
speakable Adolf and doubtless
our contributions to her are aid
ing the German cause.
Our great crusade for the de-
mocracies and against the
"aggreSsor" nations will now in
clude fight for an autocracy
no less bloody. no less deceitful,
no less aggressive than Hitler'S
naZidom.
1t is certainly no high-class
company we are about 10 keep
III we have no more regard for
principle and the high purposes
we profess. how are we any less
hypocritical. any more depend
able and honorable, any less
eXpedient and tricky than they?
THERE is a real problem here
l. for US. There isn't the slight
est doubt in the world. as every
well-informed observer in Wash
ington knows. that most of our
labor Instructions at key points
in industrial war production
have been inspired and accom-
plished by Communist cells and
influences infiltrated into our
labor organizations. Our govern
ment is fully aware Of that.
The deyilish ingenuity in en-
cheering these attacks on
mobilization of industry by con-
centration on bottlenecks have
hurt us as effectively at this
stage as would the loss of lives
and munitions in battle at a
later stage 1t was war against
us within our own boundaries.
How can we now turn about
overnight and eSpouse the cause
OF our treacherouS enemies
within. unless we too have
dipped so deep into the hellish
fluid OF 1871 international trea-
son and dishonesty that the
great American tradition Of
honor in foreign relations is also
in the ash can, together with
many American traditions Of
domestic democracy honor and
faith in promises.
DERHAPS the untimely death
Il Of Senator Pat Harrison. the
illness of Cordell Hull. the re-
moval TO the Supreme Court Of
Senator Jimmy Byrnes are other
unfortunate landmarks in our
progress away from what we
have been taught from childhood
were American principles in this
regard.
With few exceptions, they
were the last Of the old guard
OF democratic conStitutionalism
devoted TO a belief that in poll
tics. as well as business. that
most uncompromising Of realistS.
CervanteS. was right when he
said in Don Qulxote"
Honesty il the best policy"
II is not fair TO be too harsh
with nations fighting for their
lives. Finland has been deSpoiled
by Russia and possibly she
t--thihks-+ifis is chance -fer-fe-
Venge. She might remember that
Hitler always betrays and swal-
lows his allies. Let's hope she
does.
IT is hard 10 speak even a mol
Il lifying word for Russia.
Communist efforts 10 impede
our industrial effort were not so
much intended 10 help Hitler as
TO soften up. divide and weaken
our American system for the
purpose of the Soviet world
revolution. when all the nations
shall have been so tired and ex-
hausted by universal war, that.
through rebellion. slaughter and
revolt, all democracieS will be
destroyed from within.
That is true. but academic.
Our great question today is, will
il stop now. if we turn, as this
administration will surely try to
guide us. TO helping Stain
against Hitler
! don't know II is too early
10 form an opinion about any
thing. But. if it doesn't stop.
wouldn't that be irony-fghting
for Comrade Stain abroad while
he fights us al home?
The more this contemptibly
treacheTous international situa-
ton unfolds, the more clearly it
becomes apparent that it is our
business not 10 dissipate our
strength in aid of any nation we
cannot depend upon, nor in any
direction in which we are not
sure il contributes TO our own
defense-and above all 10 make
that defense impregnable against
anything that may happen at
any sacrifice and in the shortest
possible time. That we are not
doing.
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