Milford chronicle., 1941-03-07


International Problems Inseparabll
From Local Welfare.
Somewhere in the mind of every
American citizen turks this grim
and disquieting question: ''Will the
United States enter the war;"
About every writer and speaker in
the country has been attempting to
satisfactorily answer that question
for some time. You can find ire
sistibly logical arguments which
make our entry into conflict seem
inevitable as death and taxes-and
you can find equally logical argu-
ments which attempt to prove we are
In small danger Of being drawn in.
And, as the debate RACES on, a good
many Americans who make no pre-
tense to being experts find them
selves sinking deeper into confus-
ion.
The standard polls still indicate
that the American people are OPP
posed to war, even as they favor aid
to England with "all steps short of
war" At the same time, the Ameri-
can people, going by the same polls,
are convinced that if England falls
we may be next ON Hitler's list of
victims.
The arguments that support the
theory that we cannot long keep out
of war are obvious enough. We have
dropped all pretense of neutrality
we are simply non-belligerents, COM
mitted to the hilt on England's side.
We have damned the dictators in un-
equivocal terms. The leaders of both
the political parties, the President
and Mr.. Willkie, are aggressively
pro-British and anti-Nazi.. And we
are about to embark on new policy
which will give England and her al
lies our utmost moral and material
support-a policy which Hitler, if he
is seeking fight with this country,
could logically eonstrue as. a decla-
ration of war in effect. 4l
On the other side of the fence, the |
have not been so well |
publicized. In. a recent issue, the |
United States News summed up five
reasons for believing that
this country is not going to war.
First, says the News, the United |
States can aid Britain more by not |
than by fighting. Britain,
in other words, needs supplies, not |
men. If we entered the war it would |
be impossible to send much abroad,
as our own under-supplied military
establishments would need all our
factories could produce.
Second, the y: S. can help her own |
defense more by staying out of the |
war. The arms we send England |
may be lost, but we won't lose men
SO long as we remain non-bellig-
erent. And we will find out if our
arms and planes are adequate for
modern war. England, in other
words, will be the proving ground
ior the products of our factories.
Third, through the lend-lease pol
cy, the U. S. can exert its major ef-
iort in the war. Actually taking up
lrms against the Axis would not
permit us TO do more.
Fourth; the fact that all-aid-for-
England policy apparently has the
iupport of a nation which is also
in Administration circles
IS proof of the fact that its plans
ind actions are sound.
Fifth. according to his intimates,
he President really hates war,
neant what he said during the cam
,aign, and will do everything poss-
BILE to prevent war. He believes
hat his policy offers the surest road
o peace, and in that he is backed
" large numbers of his political /
All of this does not take into con-
liberation the fact that the Axis
light make war on us, thus plung-
lg us into the conflict whether we
rant to fight or not. Military and
olitical experts, for the most part,
ont think that likely at this time.
hey point out that Hitler doesn't
lake a particular point of Saving
lce." AS he has said himself, he
ill not be badgered into taking
cps he believes dangerous. The
Iperts argue that Hitler will not
age war against us until and un-
IS it suits his timetable. And it
obvious that he has enough trou-
es on his hands now without ask
g for more.
Time, which heals all wounds and
lives all arguments, will prove the
undness or weakness of these var
us contentious. In the meantime, Il
ere are many thoughtful observers 81
ho feel that we will be in war be-
re the year ends-perhaps within
< months. Joe Martin, the Republi- 81
II leader in the House, is said 10
Ell that. All the people can do now 1G
wait and see. e2
81 -oOo- 90
Removal of the moral embargo" :
ainst shipment of airplanes to no
lssia was purely a diplomatic %
I'VE. Russia is as air-tight die 2
.orship as Germany or Italy, and
S played ball with Hitler. But the
itish and u. S. governments still w. pr
pc that Russia may yet be weaned =
ay from the Axis. Lifting the IN
barge was obviously designed to piIS piS
we a welge between Hitler and col
Tin. va
Fear has been expressed that Rus re
will buy planes here and send wa
m to Germany. That fear is large pic
groundless. in that British and ~
S Army back orders will keep wa
! factories busy indefinitely. They Co
MT be able to take ON new bust , 1el