The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-03-21
BRITISH WAR AIMS


aims? This question, In the opinion
of close observers, Is raised by some
in good faith, but Is pressed by
others who would confuse the Is
sue. The latter do not discuss Hit
ler's war aims. These are too OBJ
vious. Moreover, he has declared
them. Germany, as self-appointed
sperrace nation, is to be the center
of the social, economic and political
world. Democracies, the light and
hope of the individual, are to be
destroyed even to the last man
who holds to that form OF govern
ment. Hitler has issued his chal-
lenge to them: "Our capacity for
work is our goal, our capital, he
says, land with 1t we will defeat
the entire world" The military con-
quest is but the prelude to impos-
ing upon the world an overlordship
of the Nazi economic system. This
means a life and death struggle
Nazism and the only civilization we
know.
Some, whose motives are honest,
would like to know whether the
British Empire, IL victorious, will
compel Germany to make full repa-
ration to the countries which 1t has
despoiled. They hope to see full JUS
tice done these countries, even IL
this means stripping Germany and
putting it under bondage for years
as 1T is even now doing with the
countries 1t controls.
Others, equally honest In their
inquiry, would have Great Britain
pursue more lenient course. While
they believe that Great Britain
should force Germany to restore the
seized nations to, their previous
status as sovereignties, they would
make the terms of reparation short
of those of the Versailles Treaty.
Pointing to the present cataclysm
following so closely upon the World
War, they argue that nothing is
gained by severe terms in peace
treaties. Still others with high mo-
tives are anxious that Great Brit
ian implement as her terms of
peace a United States of Europe,
wherein Germany would be but an
integral part.
Many British writer's and pub
licists envision federal continent
al Europe free from a morbid ma
tionalism and those elements that
make possible tryant's lust for
conquest This idea more than any
other dominates the fighting spirit
of Great Britain and those for the
most part who, from the nations
now under German control, are
fighting under the Union Jack.
The answere to the keenest OBJ
servers to those who honestly ques-
ton Britian's peace aim is: If we do
not give about aid to England, the
war can end badly for the United
States. Possibly the greatest single
event in the most desperate hour of
recent British history, they point
out, was the rise of Winston
Churchill to the Premiership and,
later when he announced as thees-
sence of his program the four words
Of the French tiger, II am making
war;. It is upon the continuance of
this war to victory. that our whole
nation policy is now shaping and in
which lies the hope of our civiliza-
ton.
Without our assistance the war
could end badly for the United
States il Hitler won by a complete
collapse of the British Empire. This
would leave the United States open
to military attack by the Axis pow
ers, both in the Atlantic and the
Pacific, and would result in a dis
astrous economic war.
A negotiated peace with Hitler,
which is urged in certain circles,
would likely be such as to leave
Great Britain in command of its
fleet, but with British-G German
understanding that would result in
strangling our foreign commerce
throughout the world.
1t is the conviction of many who
have given much thought to the
subject that the chief concern of
every American citizen should not
be what are the aims of Great Brit
ian, but how can the war and world
wide economic aims of Hitler be de-
feated? This is the question which
matters most, for it will prevent the
enslavement Of Europe and the inn
plementing of a slave-driven popu-
lation Of 4O0,00O,O0O people into a
springboard to world dominance.
News Bureau