Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-01
By WESTBROOK PEGLER

TT CERTAINLY would be a
L great favor TO many of us II
some one would explain patiently
in plain, little words to what ex-
tent we are being idealistic and
moral in this war and 10 what
extent practical or, If not prac-
tical. then selfish.
Because. if we are strictly
idealistic and moral, how do we
distinguish between Hitlerism
and Stalinism, which. as so many
have observed, are equally often
sive TO American ideals and NOR
ais and both guilty of wanton
aggression. though in the latter
respect there has been a differ
ence of degree? That is to say,
Hitler is no worse aggresSor than
Stain but is, in fact from the
standpoint OF efficiency. better
one.
Both are extremely unkind 10
elements of their home folk. but
Stain has vastly outscored HIT
Ter in slaughter within the ma
tional family circle.
But, however the cries of the
victims pain us. we have no right
10 interfere by force-anyway,
on that ground
IF WE were TO take that attl-
L tude we should be forever
rushing into OF h er peoples
houses and yelling "unhand that
woman"
If that were our position we
should have taken firm steps
against Turkey long time ago
for the terrible things the Turks
did to the -AfmeniansT, and
never should have recognized
Soviet Russia.
However. | think we can take
il as settled that II is not our
intention TO reprove by force of
arms the rulers of other nations
who hold maSSacreS or otherwise
prosecute elements of their
people. much as we deplore tNis
conduct.
Now. II Russia today were TO
throw in on the Allied side
meaning our side We would
give numerous rouslng cheers
and our best people would start
inviting the Soviet ambassador,
Constantine Oumansky. TO par
ties at their homes
WE ARE prepared 10 admire
w and root for the Turks as
well. although Turkey OF course.
is dictatorship. too So II
comes around that We are will
ing to help one of the worst
aggressors and one of the most
fiendish tyrants in all history 10
lick the other after which the
tyrant Of The Isl part mean
ing would be stronger
and meaner than ever.
That wouldn't be spreading
freedom in the world.
Then about England For the
first time in the adult hfe of this
country we are beginning 10
realize what tough. game people
the English arc
II Just happens that in this
fight the blow has fallen on the
English almost exclusively and
that they have stood up under
their punishment as no other
people ever did or had TO in the
history of The world
EVEN the Germans must adj
IL mire them for their sus-
tanned bravery. and. win or lose
this war. the English are going
TO be respected afterward and
have some say in the running
of that world.
But even admiring the English
and all the English. for that
m a I r-Americans cant tell
themselves that we must help
Britain only because we think
Britain is defending freedom as
such.
If Germany didn't threaten
our position as a big nation we
wouldn't be taking all these ex-
ercises TO develop our chest
measurements and making all
these speeches 10 ourselves
Our government and most of
our people are convinced now
that the Germans are this coun-
try's enemies, too. or. AT least.
that they are very tricky. IN
reliable neighborS who really
have set themselves the task of
Tossing the whole world.
But there our own freedom
and our existence as a big ma
ton are threatened. As TO the
freedom, | think we will lose
some in the struggle and. even
if victorious. never will get it
all back.
EVEN if the slave states should
II wiggle loose if Hitler were
demolished that is no promise
that they would be free.
So il appears that in fighting
for their own safety the British.
incidentally, are defending ours.
too. but don't think they ever
would fight for ours unless their
own safety and freedom were
involved or that we would make
all this effort unless we felt
that ours were threatened.
If il is freedom aS an ideal