Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-03-12
Says Helping Britain
Part of Our Destiny
Writer Discusses Claims
Of EneIish-Speokine Peoples
To American Support
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star;
Before this communication reaches the
public eye the lease-lend bill will have
made the last hurdle and become the
law of the land. The fact that this
piece of legislation has been accorded
well-nigh unanimous support is both
fine and wholesome, as it thereby serves
notice to the world that America is in
earnest about this matter of aid to Eng
land and the British Empire in particu-
lar and those other nations fighting
aggression in general.
Commonly, I am opposed to too many
commitments. England and France gave
too many guarantees. They could not
make good their commitments, which
fact weakened the opposition that the
axis powers would otherwise have in
CURED. In this instance, however, that
mistake is not likely to be made. We are
not making commitments except as the
axis powers extend their acts of agrees
sion and in such instances only as the
said powers are opposed do we pretend
to offer aid.
But the phase of this aid-to- England
problem that has perplexed me beyond
all others is the apparent willingness on
the part of all of our people to aid
England, provided we can do so without
being hurt without the loss of blood or
life. We accept the premise that aid to
England is necessary for the reason that
tle s1,ryiyo1 IF n,;+ IL,
Empire are essential to our security and
general welfare. If that premise is cor
rect, then We should have no difficulty
in following through to the logical con-
cluSlon that England has been making
our fight since March 9, 1910. when
Germany oyerran Norway and Denmark,
that France went down making our fight,
because in making the effort she did
she was, pro tanto, making the fight in
behalf OF England and the British En-
pire.
However, I am not actuated in my
attitude by mere logic in the ordinary
sense. 1 do not want to see the race
to which I belong relegated to a suoor-
dinate role in world affairs. This does
not mean desire to see the Germanic
races made a subject people, either.
There is no reason why the English and
German peoples may not survive as
co-equals, each working out their own
destiny in their own way. The German
people have rights that must be respected.
They are entitled to their quota of the
raw materials of the earth for manu-
facture and commerce. They are en-
titled to establish and maintain the type
and character of government they wish
to. They are not entitled to extend
their government and institutions beyond
their territorial limits by infiltration.
This is revolutionary process and sub
versive OF peace everywhere that the
German influence is felt. 1t must be
suppressed; otherwise there is no peace
nor stability. And this goes for the axis
powers generally.
do not appraise the lend-Iease bill
as an avoidance of war, for it is war: at
present bloodleSs, it is true, but war it
is nevertheless The course that this
conflict is to take cannot be controlled
~ Wv occupant VI lIlS Willie
The American people will not permit the
fall Of the English-speaking people. That
is part of our destiny. We are an
integral part of the world. though we
have difficulty in realizing that we are;
and We are just as prone. by nature, to
stand by the English people across the
seas as we are to stand by our immediate
family and f1resides.
This situation is one not of our cleo
ton; it is nature and the laws of human
relationships. over which we can exercise
but little control However, we can make
this conflict effective and victorious. but
to do so, We must make the effort one
of concert and in unison. We must for
get self. We must dispense with friction
and strife. We must put capital. in
dustry and labor into this effort. There
must be no lag nor slack anywhere.
Social gains for the duration of this
conflict must be forgotten. Let us make
this truly national effort.
JOHN W. HESTER.
Durham, N. C.