The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-07-10
WNU Service, 1343 Fl Street. N. W..
Washington, d. c.

Washington, ID. &.
WASHINGTON.-It was one Of
. those Washington mornings when
the clouded sky above lets in the
damp, heavy heat and an aching
glare on wall and pavement even
though it shuts out the sun itself.
i The German armies were smash
ing through Poland and into the
Ukraine. With the Luftwaffe roar
ing eastward for a change, British
bombers were blackening skies and
shaking the earth Of northern
France and industrial Germany.
A British military and economic
mission. we knew. was sitting down
with the Soviet leaders in Moscow,
offering them utmost aid in their
fight against Germany.
The papers were crying w a
drop in American airplane produc-
ton, still reporting strikes in defense
industries and, very casually, at his
press conference, the President had
announced that the United States
would aid the Soviets as much as
possible.
Later, I sat in the office of a per-
turbed government official.
How" I asked, "can you recon-
cile to the American people the anti
communist feeling in this country
and aid to Russia"
He paused and looked out over
streets, black with staggered shift
Of government workers on their way
home-in another hour there would
be another echelon of hurrying men
and women. in another hour. an
other-recruits in the army Of de-
tense.
Americans Dislike Communism.
Finally, he spoke:
"Of course" he answered, that
is the problem we have to face. We
know that most Americans feel as
unsympathetic towards Communism
as they do toward Naziism. And the
subversive activities of the Commu-
nists in this country have aroused
strong hatred against Moscow. Our
attitude on that score has been
plainly stated"
Then my friend quoted the state
ment made by Undersecretary of
State Summer Welles. shortly after
Hitler's speech declaring war against
Russia.
Mr.. Welles had stated:
Incfripac If Corro,nicfic
dictatorship are as %intolerable and
as alien to our own beliefs as are
the principles of the Nazi dictator
ship . but the immediate issue
thai presents itself to the people
of the United States is whether the
plan for universal conquest .
which Hitler is now desperately try
ing to carry out, is to be success
fully halted or defeated"
Then the man across the desk from
me said: I'm other words, when
your wagon gets stuck in the mud.
you don't look too closely at the man
who helps pull you out"
What the government would like,
l suggested, would be to have the
Nazi Bingham dog and the red calico
cat eat each other up.
"Perhaps." he laughed, that
would be the best solution. But it
isn't as simple as that. The pup
seems to have so much stronger
jaws. in this case, that we believe it
might be wise 10 furnish the cat with
an extra claw or two"
The trouble. l suggested, is selling
that idea to the American people.
He agreed; but he added that there
were certain things which ought to
be understood in regard to subver-
sive Communist activities in this
country.
Subvcrsive Activities Overestimated
Lets take for granted" he said,
that we would have nothing to do,
if we could help it, with the fellow
who is helping us pull our wagon
out of the mud. But we do want
to get the wagon out. so there isn't
much choice.
No"' DIS llllilSS are touay, a COTl-
muniSt is not likely to do as much
harm as we may fear" the official
went on. There are three reasons
for this statement: In the first place
the government has subversive &C.
Invites under much better control
than is generally known.
In the second place. pressure is
now being brought to bear effective
ly on the labor unions to promptly
remove all members of any subver-
sive organizations from their men,
berships.
Thirdly. in all probability. now
that Russia needs our help, the
Party line will probably order any