The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-09-04
Facing The Facfs
With PHILIP PEARL


forget about the war in Europe for a
while but it is affecting our daily lives
more and more each day. The blunt
facts are that we may still escape
direct Intervention in the war itself
but we cannot escape its effects.
In one sense, the recent meeting at
sea between President Roosevelt and
Prime Minister Churchill was reassur-
ing. That is the fiat statement by the
President after his safe return that
the conference did not bring the
United States any nearer to war.
Another encouraging feature Of the
historic meeting was the joint decla-
ration of peace aims issued by the
leaders Of the two countries. Amer
leans will be able to find no fault with
this eight t-point program, other than
that it was couched in vague terms.
Even this is readily understandable
in view Of the indecisiveness of the
war situation. But it is obvious by
now that this statement of peace aims
was not directed SO much at the
American and British people as at
the oppressed men and women under
the harsh rule of Hitler and his fel-
low dictators. To them it gave prom
Use of square deal and future peace
once they are able to throw off the
yoke of totalitarianism.
What About Russia?
What we would really like to know
about this conference at sea, how
ever, were the things that were not
revealed and probably won't be until
the war is over Secrecy may be all
right for the dictators, but the Amer
lean and British people have an un-
conquerable desire to know what it is
all about when their future is being
decided for them.
And another thing that is some
what disturbing to most Americans is
the question of just how far this
country is being committed in aiding
the defense Of Soviet Russia.
Out of the sea conference came the
announcement that three-power
parley would be held in Moscow in
the near future-with representatives
of the United States, Great Britain
and Joe Stain participating-to de-
termine how Anglo-American assist
ance to the Soviets can be speeded.
Now there's situation that must
give us pause. We're resigned to the
fact that we must help Russia but we
have no yen at all to become pals and
allies with that guy Stain. In many
respects Stain and Communism are
just as hateful to the American peo-
pie as Hitler and Nazism.
The Executive Council Of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor summed up
the attitude of the great majority of
American workers on this important
question in a recent statement on
foreign policy.
The council said Soviet Russia was
an enemy Of American democracy. An
even greater enemy, since it is more
Of a direct threat to our safety, is
Nazi Germany. 1t is good sense for
us to help one of our enemies lick an
even more threatening enemy, but in
the name Of common sense don't let's
make pals of either of them in the
process.
Split up Between Pals
1t is an inescapable truth that
Soviet Russia is not democracy. Her
form Of government is just as totali-
tarianism as that of Nazi Germany
In fact, only up to a couple of months
ago, Soviet Russia and Nazi Ger
many were allied against the democ-
racies. Their sudden split-up has
given the democracies welcome
breathing spell during which we can
strengthen our defenses.
AS we look at it. if Soviet Russia
icks Hitler the United States will get
a big break. We need fear no ex-
ternal aggression from Stain. His
boys are out to bore from within. But
if Hitler conquers Russia, the threat
of aggression against the United
States may become intensified because
then he will have greater supplies and
added power to throw into the fight
against the Western Hemisphere
Therefore, it is practical strategy fol
uS w H'lp iiSN
But if we embrace Soviet Russia as
an ally and kiss the Communists in
Russia on both cheeks, just think
what an opening that would give the
Communists in this country to con.
tinue their work of disintegratine
American democracy from within. OF
course, the Communists will say that's
the farthest thing from thei1
thoughts. They will insist they want
to make America stronger now sc
that it will better be able to hell
Russia.
Yet it wouldn't surprise US much il
the actual trend of thought Of the
Communists in this country were fol
lowing an entirely different direction
We can almost hear them thinking
out loud. "Our boy Stain is on the
spot" they are saying. "The chances
are he will get licked. If so, the only
Communist regime in the world viii
be destroyed. Wouldn't it be smart
thing for US to go to work quietly
right now to gain control of the
United States so that the Communists