Evening star., 1941-12-09
Unity and Confusion

It may be doubted whether the
United States ever before has
achieved degree of national unity
comparable to that attending the
formal entry into war with Japan
yesterday.
In less than four hours after the
President had addressed the joint
session of Congress he was affixing
his signature to the document Of
f1cially declaring the existence of a
state of war with the Island Empire.
This joint resolution was voted with
out any adverse debate, the Senate
passing it unanimously and there be-
ing but one dissent in the House In
all respects, it was a performance
without precedent in the history of
this country.
The reason for this solidarity of
public opinion is to be found, of
course, in the ruthless and wanton
character of the japanese attack.
The militarists in Toxic, seeking by
stealth and treachery to secure an
initial advantage, have succeeded in
making for themselves an enemy in
comparably stronger than would have
been the case had their assault been
made along any other line. 1t would
be idle to deny that the character OF
Japan's attack brought an initial
success in the heavy damage done to
the United States fleet and Army.
But it was a success achieved at the
price of creating overnight united
American people-united in the un-
swerving determination to crush
Japan. In the long run, the men at
Toxic will learn that this was too
high a price to pay for their early
victory.
This new spirit of unity which has
swept across the United States, this
firm resolve to see the war through
to successful conclusion, is not to
be taken for granted by this Govern
ment, however. The people who
must and who will carry the burden
Of the war, in return for the Sacri-
fees they will be called upon to
make, have right to expect certain
things of their Government.
For one thing. they are asking and
they should be told how it was posi-
BILE for large japanese force to
strike such a successful blow at
Hawaii, our island outpost in the
mid-Pacific and supposedly one of
the most strongly defended bases in
the world. 1t seems all too clear
that the American forces there were
taken completely by surprise. Could
this have happened if the proper
precautions had peen taken by those
responsible for the defense of Ha-
waii? 1t is difficult to believe that
the answer can be other than a
negative one, and in that event the
people of the country are entitled to
know why the precautions were not
taken.
On still another ScOre-that per-
tanning to information on the prog
ress of the war-it would seem that
the people are receiving less consid-
Grafton than is due them.
As yet, for example. there has
been no specific information relative
TO the damage inflicted by the Japa-
nese in their surprise attack. This,
possibly, may be explained on the
ground that reasons of military Sc
crecy require the withholding for
the time being of exact information
on losses, since this information
might be useful to the enemy, but
no one will contend that such an
explanation can apply to the almost
unbelievable mishandling of in
formation concerning the alleged
approach of enemy planes to San
Francisco last night.
AS late as this morning the people
of the country did not know with
certainty whether Japanese planes
actually had broken all the way
through our Pacific defenses and
reached the West Coast The AFRAID
alarms were sounded intermittently
throughout the night in what must
have been a narrowing ordeal for
the million people in the affected
area. But as of this morning the
facts of the matter still were lost in
fog of official confusion.
Lieutenant General John L. De-
witt chief of the Western defense
command, says unequivocally that
several groups Of enemy planes were
sighted over the San Francisco Bay
area. And, he adds, full report
was made to the Office of the Chief
of staff of the Army in Washington.
But throughout the night in the
Capital it was repeatedly stated that
the War Department had received
no information indicating that there
was hostile activity on the West
Coast, and at 8 o'clock this morning
the Office of the Chief of Staff stated
officially that from information re-
ceived up to the present time we
cannot confirm the presence Of any
hostile planes" And, to add to this
incredible confusion, 1t was stated