Smyrna times., 1941-01-23
SHOULD WE FEED THE
STARVING PEOPLES
CONQUERED BY HITLER?

There is an overwhelming ma
jority of the people in this country
opposed to such action. At the
same time there are forces that are
still working to change the major
ity sentiment. What will be the
outcome?
1t is generally recognized that
any arrangement, made with Hit
Ter, is good so long as he wants to
keep his word and no longer. AS
a liar and a crook he has no equal,
either now or in recorded history.
So we know that Hitler would
steal some of the food we shipped
into Nazi dominated territory in
spite of any promises he would
make. 1t is also known that most
of the conquered countries would
need no special assistance from US
if Hitler had not robbed them.
What he wants us to do is to re-
plenish the food supplies he has al
ready taken. If we do so, we be-
come a partner in his crimes. The
asininity of such a course is appar-
ent when we remember that we
would be helping to strengthen our
potential conqueror.
Many well intentioned, but ill-in-
formed, people don't believe this.
They say we are safe: IF Hitler
can't cross twenty-three miles of
English Channel in four months,
how long will it take him to cross
three thousand miles of Atlantic
ocean," The answer to that is:
IF a gang of murderers take six
months to dig a tunnel, twenty feet
long under Jail wall, how long
will it take them to reach farm
house two miles away after they
escape from the jail?"
Others claim that Hitler will not
attack US unless we provoke him
by giving too much aid to Great
Britain. So to be safe, all we have
to do is to observe strict neutrality.
Like Denmark and Holland? Still
others say Hitler wouldn't dare in
wade this country because 40 ,OO0,-
600 Americans are unbeatable.
Such wishful thinking has already
helped Hitler conquer many ma
tions with standing armies much
larger than ours. Hitler boldly
outlined his course Of action. Other
nations refused to believe him, the
only time he ever told the truth.
They are gone, and now supposedly
intelligent Americans are still re
fusing to believe the Nazi boasts
that they will conquer us also.
People don't realize the danger
we are in. They designate as war
mongers those who call attention
to our weak points. They condemn
the so-called war hysteria. They
just don't want to be frightened.
No doubt, when war spreads to
this country, they will die bravely
in its defense. Perhaps, after all,
that is what they really want.
Maybe they are intrigued by the
idea of standing like martyrs amid
the ruins of their bomb-wrecked
homes. If SO, that would be o. x.
with the rest of us, provided their
decisions affected themselves only.
One of the most irritating infiu-
ences today emanates from those
who regard themselves as good
Christians. They say we should
ship food to the conquered coun-
tries Of Europe because Of our
Christianity. On the surface, their
point of view is correct, but it
won't stand a critical analysis.
There is plenty of authority in
the Bible for those who claim that
Christians should love their enem-
les and can not take part in any
war. On the other hand there is
plenty of Biblical authority, as well
as church practices, during the last
twenty centuries, to offset that ar
gument. The result is that
C~hricfiap'S c0ppeption of bic ohIi