Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-12
BY DOROTHY THOMPSON

SECRETARY STlMSONS speech
~ last week was simple c,
straightforward. almost dry state.
ment of the position of the United
States in the world today. It's
eloquence derived from its con-
tents. not from any excess OF
rhetoric.
It was a statement that is long
overdue. And it is quite unanswer-
able. 1t leads TO an inevitable
conclusion-namely, that we must
start right now TO participate in
the battle of the Atlantic with the
intention of winning.
Now is not too early. 1t is al
ready late-but not too late.
Every day makes it later, not
earlier.
The manner Of that participa-
ton is matter TO be determined
by the government, by those whose
business it is TO determine the
disposition of our naval forces. in
view of the composition of those
forces and of interior knowledge
Of the whole situation.
II is the business of the people
and of Congress to recognize the
reality Of the threat in the At
lantic and TO give the government
power TO deal with it.
COLONEL STIMSON devoted
" the first part of his speech TO
lucid account of the step by step
developments of the last seven
years. beginning with the building
up in secret of the immense mill
tary machine of Germany; the
successive conquests which are
now known TO all; the creation of
mutual aggression pact between
Germany. the Mediterranean
power of Italy. and the Pacific
power of Japan; the abrogation
first Of all law. as we understood
the term law. inside the aggressor
countries. followed by the abroga-
ton of all international law in
the interest Of total war: the in
evitable drawing into the conflict.
of Europe. Asia and Africa. and
the unfolding struggle. which will
be decisive. for the seaways Of
the planet.
The struggle involves the United
States. which j. the greatest
oceanic power on earth. II i'm
mediately involves the United
States and the Western Henri
sphere. when the western outposts
in the Atlantic are threatened
namely the British Isles. and the
French and Portuguese possessions
Of Dakar. the Azores. and the
Cape Verde Islands.
Colonel Stimson said:
"They Cthe Axis powers) now
confront the world. including
ourselves. with the alternative
of abject surrender or uncom-
promising forceful resistance"
And adds, II cannot recall that
the United States throughout
its history-even when u was
small and week.-Mrs. yielded to
such a demand
COLONEL STIMSON rightly
~ admits that all this might
have been prevented if many an
HLnwary sentinel of liberty had not
been caught mapping at vital mo-
ments." This is true. The cost
Of those maps is prodigious. but it
constitutes no reason for taking
another one.
Colonel Stimson is, however.
convinced that in alliance with the
British navy we can render secure
all the oceans and thus hold in
check the onward rush of the tide
of nazism while our factories build
up the defense forces of Britain.
He points out that the unre-
stricted submarine warfare of
Germany is not legal blockade
under the rules OF marine warfare.
This. of course. is correct. The
German government has the right
in international law 10 stop and
search ships carrying contraband.
1t has no right to sink them
without warning. neither do we in
international law have the right TO
convoy ships.
But If We attempt 10 observe
the rules of international law in a