Evening star., 1941-07-25

/ Certainly he CdllIlOI Ol1eT lIle Spu-
rious excuse that his Government
wants him to keep this medal in the
| interest of better relations between
the embattled Nazi savaees and the
! peace-loving United States of
America He might have asked the
President whether the Government
desired that he retain this decora-
ton.
Says He Benefits Hitler.
Mr.. Lindbergh, in his letter to the
newspapers, which he addressed to
the President, also complained that
he has no connection with any for
eign government; that he has had
no communication, directly or indi-
rectly, with any one in Germany or
Italy since the spring of 1899.
Neither l nor any one in this ad-
ministrat ton ever charged that Mr..
Lindbergh had any connection with
any foreign government or that he
was in communication with any
representative of foreign govern
ment. But it is a notorious fact
that he has been devoting himself
to a cause which, If 1t should sue
ceed, will be of immeasurable bene-
fit to Hitler.
So far as the result is concerned,
it doesn't matter whether Mr.. Lind
bergh is the conscious or uncon-
scious tool of Hitler. II my house
is burned down. because Of the care
leSSneSS of curious child, the re-
suit is the same as If it had been
set on fire by an incendiary. If Mr..
Lindbergh and Hitler have the same
thoughts and express those thoughts
in similar phraseology, they have a
common objective, even If there is
no direct communication between
| them.
Mr.. Lindbergh has declared that
America needs new leadership. Hit
Ter not only believes this, he is pre-
pared to provide new leadership.
suspect that Mr.. Lindbergh is, too.
Hitler talks about "a new world"
and "a new order The Lindberghs
talk about "the wave of the future"
which is new world" Hitler
boasts that his armies are irresistible
and that they will overrun the world.
Mr.. Lindbergh counsels his fellow
citizens that there is no use in trying
to withstand Hitler.
Doesn't Believe He Is Agent.
have never heard any one charge
that Mr.. Lindbergh was Nazi agent
or the agent of any other country
do not believe that he is. Hitler
has written that in every country
it is always possible to find men
who, through ignorance, or self
interest, or emotion. can persuade
themselves to play the Nazi game.
Some have to be bought, but not
all. Laval did not have to be bought.
Nor Quisling, and Mr.. Lindbergh
doesn't have to be bought either.
What Mr.. Lindbergh's motive is. I
do not pretend to know. 1t does
not matter much. anyhow. But We
ought to be concerned that he is de-
voting practically all OF his time to
preaching appeasement and promot-
ing disunity. His words are spread
abroad, especially throughout South
America, and serve as a powerful aid
to NaA agents and propagandists.
Whether Mr.. Lindbergh acts this
way in good faith or in bad, the re-
suit Is that he is undermining the
interests and security of his own
country. So far, only Hitler has
benefited from Mr.. Lindbergh's
words and activities.
If Mr.. Lindbergh, as he implies
in his lachrymose letter to the
newspaper which he addressed to
the President. is misunderstood. he
can put himself right by champion
ing the cause Of democracy and
civiliza ton. He can denounce Hitler
and his brutal aggressions. He can
cheer on England. He can unite
with those who are prepared to de-
fend American institutions. Since
Mr., Lindbergh has said on more
than one occasion that he believes
that America should be put in
state of defense, he might join in
urging the Congress to pass the bill
that the President and Gen. Marsh
all are strongly advocating to extend
enlistments beyond a year. And
nothing would be so persuasive with
Americans who love their country
and democracy than for him to send
back his German medal to Hitler
and step out of the ranks of the
Knights Of the German Eagle.
He has already voluntarily stepped
out Of the ranks of the United States
Army. Why does he still cling to
the Nazi knighthood?
(Copyrieht. 1a41. by North American News
paper Alliance)