The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-22
nx HOWELL CHENEY

To The Editor:
 Whatever ideas we previously had about the size of the task ahead of us and the weight of the burdens to be accepted, they now seem to have become q part of the distant past. And whatever controversies and differences of opinion have divided us, we have row suddenly become united In the prosecution of Q single purpose.
 When Congress declares the exis. tence of Q state Of war and votes with practical unanLnity that all the military and naval forces and all of the resources of the United States should be pledged to prose- cute Q war against Japan, what does that mean7 When we pledge "our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor" to bring this war to successful conclusion, what is our purpose2
 We will oil be united iil this pur- pose most effectively, and we will shoulder arms" more deterninedly, if we calmly weigh the situation as we see 1t today and attempt, how. ever imperfectly, to see what lies ahead of Us. Perhaps only future generations can give the full answer.
 First, we are at war with Japan not solely because of the perfldy and hypocrisy of her rulers and representatives, and not only because Of her direct attack upon our terri- tory and our lives. It may be enough to justify war that the responsible rulers of c nation should have plungs ed its people and those of Q friendly country into the horrors of war while professing to come to us on A mission Of peace. It Is not Suftlr clent cause, however, to carry us through tho hard days ahead that Q primary cause of war was an un. provoked attack upon our territories by Japan while she sought to deceive Us by false statements and express siorS of hope for continued peace, Such methods of entering upon c war are only Q confirmation of the real and the broader issues which have brought her attack upon us. These Issues 1t is important for uS to keep clearly before us because they gre for more difficult to bring to q successful issue than the punish ment of perfdy, hypocrisy and criminal aggression
 Japan insisted that the pos- session of force and the will to make that force superior to that oi other nations gave her tho right to control their destinies, social and economic, In her own interests. She needed no other justification thar tho fact that she possessed this force and ability to exploit the resources of her neighboFs to her own cd. vantage. She cynlcally called 1t c means of establishing "co.prosper. ity" in Asia. She referred to tho attempt to control certain areas o! China as merely tho "china in. cident."
 The United States has insisted that TO nation had Q right to i'm. pose It's domination upon another country by force of arms and pressed It's conviction with the utmost toler. ance and patience. Such an act wal an act of aggression which made the aggressor an outlaw among na. tlons. Tn the conduct of internatio al affairs this Is unquestionably ( modern concept and one that nc other great nation in the world wal tn Q position Co advance as thC United States. We were asking fol no territories and no exclusive trade rights.
 Japan has insisted that having conquered her neighbors she wal entitled to control the trade, com. merce and production of these coun. tries for her own benefit and tha other nations could be a party tt "co-prosperity" in the Asiatic Eas only upon such terms as Japar should establish. The United State insisted on the right of every nation to an equality of opportunity fol trade and commerce with all othel nations.
 Secretary Hull in his final lettel to the Japanese Ambassador stated very clearly the principles whicf were involved:
 l l. Respect for the territorial integ. 4 rtty and sovereignty of all nations.
 2. Non-interference with the in. ternal affairs of other countries.
 S.- Equality of opportunity fo trade and commerce between all ma. tions In all parts of the world.
 In brief, 1t is the determination O. the United States to abide by. ant support the acceptance of, a reigr of law between nations in place Q, a reign of brute force.
 1s win be seen when thus sinply and clearly stated that the principle, involved are direct and necessar, Issue at stake not only in our wal with Japan but in the war whicl Germany and Italy have declared upon us. These are principles whlcl since 1928 have been rooted in oul adherence to the Monroe Doctrine protecting the sovereignty and ter Tltoflai integrity ~ the South Ann