The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-04-24
Nation Attitude on War
Puzzle TO u. ). Officials
Washington Hears Conflicting Reports on
Issue of Full Participation; WiIdIife
Is 'M0bi|ized.'
BY BAUKHAGE
National Farm and Home Hour Co
WNU Service, 1343 II Street,
Washington, D. C.

WNU Service, 1343 H Street,
Washington. d. C.
WASHINGTON.-One of the inter-
esting events to watch in the capital
these days is the welcoming Of a
traveller who has safely returned
from the great west OF the wide
prairies. Westinghouse gather
around him with wan but hopeful
smiles on their faces. They are
never quite Ire whether he is about
to pull a peace-pipe from under his
blanket or a tomahawk.
And they are not sur whether the
tomahawk is meant for use on them
or as a sign that the wild tribes Of
Chicago and Pittsburgh and Cripple
Creek and Hollywood r ready to
join the militant East in a good old
fashioned war-dance.
OF late some of these returned
travellers have surprised the braves
who collect the wampum and the
medicine men who sit around the
council fires along the Potomac.
Surprised at what they hear from
the peaceful folk who live in the
valley of the Father Of Waters and
who are tilling their fields on the
great plains and among the Rock
les. While these distant Americans
are loyal to Big Chief in the White
Tepee (according to the Gallup
polD, they just amt a-spoilin' for
a fight"
In other words even some Of the
writer's and pamphleteers who have
been most enthusiastic about aid to
the democracies at all costs have
changed their tune. They are be-
ginning to say that the American
people are still SO strongly against
permitting America to become a
belligerent that Washington must
step carefully lest it 60 too far in
that direction. I have very good
reasons for feeling that the Presi-
dent is beginning to be influenced
by this feeling.
OAPAOAAAoe r
Recently I talked with a foreign
diplomat whose country. still at
peace, is trembling under the threat
ening shadow of the dictators. He
said he found it hard to understand
the American people. He was sure
that they we're willing to save the
democracies from defeat at any cost
and yet they seemed to be solidly
against putting this country into
war. 1T reminds me-" he said, "of
a line from the poet Goethe" and
he quoted:
Two spirits dwell within my
BOSOM"
Some of the Presidents associates
who are able to look on the situa-
ton abroad effectively and r in
close touch with our observers in
foreign parts are saying, in effect.
this:
1.-THE present American foreign
policy is not being run counter to
the majority Of public opinion.
1T is fully realized that while
parts of the East and certain groups
in Washington are ready for United
States participation in the war i'm
mediately. the people as a whole
would object s~trenuously to getting
us into the conflict.
But they feel that even if this
country should take steps which lead
us nearer to the edge Of the conflict
than we have already gone, they be-
lieve that Germany is so anxious to
avoid a formal state Of war with US
that she would hesitate a long time
before bringing about such a step.
In other words even if we were
to convoy British supply ships to
the very edge of the Western hemi-
sphere, to Greenland for example.
and there was an open battle be-
tween an American warship and a
German submarine. war might
not be declared by either side
Evidence of this conviction was
offered by Democratic Senate Lead
er Barley when he was opposing
the Tobey amendment recently
which expressly forbade the use OF
conveys. Senator Barley said:
:" . if we have violated inter-
national law in such a way as could
result in a declaration of war
against US by Germany, we have al
ready done that. and the conveying
Of ships, would be only an incident"
Wildlife Modified
For Defense -
The United States is mobilizing
wildlife for defense-the department
of agriculture's recruiting drive is
on!
When the axe of the first settler
rang out on the continent of Amer
lea, its echoes disturbed the bal
ance of nature Until then the nat
ural food supply regulated the ami