Evening star., 1941-04-26
Lindbergh Defended
Kathleen Norris Denounees Smooth,
WelI-Rounded' Prophecies Of Miss Thompson
BY KATHLEEN NORRIS.


Wednesday night there was a
mass meeting in New York
addressed by three Americans. I
was one, the Massachusetts, Senator,
David I. Walsh, was another. and
Col. Charles Lindbergh was the
third. Within the hall we had ex-
pected there might be some dis
turbance. We were speaking for the
America First Committee, the OBJ
ject of which is to prevent our ships
and men from being used for con-
voy duty, prevent our country from
entering Europe's latest of thou
sand years of war, and conflne our
defenses-and make them strong
to our own country. 80
In the packed hall there was no
interruption of the program except
prolonged applause. Col Lindbergh
was cheered for minutes together
when he entered, and when he rose
to speak. Nobody hissed anything
and there was no heckling. Two
thousand members of the audience
joined the committee that night,
another thousand stormed the New
York headquarters enthusiastically
to offer cooperation the next day.
Two friends of mine, women,
could not get into the hall on
Wednesday night. They milled
about in a street crowd that was,
they said, always good -natured,
and well handled by the police. This
crowd, they said, listened to the
loud speakers, laughed and ap-
plauded. shared ledges and boxes
and any other available seats.
Wants Further Particulars.
Now I have been shown an article
by Miss Dorothy Thompson (this
article appeared in Fridays Starr
describing on that particular oc-
casion the action of the America
First Committee, which she seems
strangely and anxiously to fear Is a
Germany-first committee. She says
that until that meeting mo actual
violence had been employed" And
this time, she continues, 'it was
precipitated, not by those who were
picketing the colonel's meeting. but
by his supporters, who let fly at
the picketers.
1t seems to me Miss Thompson
should be required in common JUS
tice to give us further particulars
OF street fight that no newspaper
reporter nor policeman observed. and
of which eye-witnesses saw nothing.
She herself was many miles away
at the time.
Now this inaccuracy may we'll be
considered typical of the exciting
and disturbing tenor of many of
Miss Thompson's articles. Ia this
same article she predicts that the
supporters of Col. Lindbergh will
grow increasingly violent" When
our arms production is we'll under
way there will be a series of strikes
and there will be sabotage" There
will be cries for the suppression
of all unions"
Sees Only Ruin for victorS.
How dare she make these smooth
and well-rounded prophecies against
an American movement already
joined by millions of Americans
who are courageous enough to find
in Europe's endless wars only ruin
for victors as we'll as vanquished,
who believe firmly that no frontiers
are ours to guard but those included
In our Monroe Doctrine, no army
ours to depend upon but our own,
no national quarrels important to
us but our own, and no navy our
first line of defense but the Amer
ican Navy.
Some of our best-informed Army
and naval authorities support Col.
Lindberg in everything he said.
History, in its story of trans Atlantic
wars, supports him. Miss Thompson
says Mr.. Lippman finds him naive"
She doesn't think he's naive" I"
Neither do I. I think he's wise and
strong and brave enough to tell us
the truth; that no nation will be
winner when this disastrous fight
is over across the seas. and that
bloodshed and hate never will end
war.
Incidentally, why "naive?" Miss
Thompson speaks perfect German.
How about her French? Isn't 1t