The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-06-09

eeAnANeAsS 0NsNASSks &AA SAAS VI contractors seeking Army-l mission; One Dollar Men relaxing from discussions Of the aluminium shortage and gassless Sundays.
 Tn front of the White House the squirrels were never spryer, Along the Speedway the moon was never brighter. Tn the gardens of Georgetown the roses were never more gorgeous. And in the foun- tain between the East Wing of the White House and Henry Morgen- enthaus Treasury not even in the days of Andy Mellon were the goldfish sieeker, sleepier, and more contented.
 Outwardly Washington Is more carefree, more prosperous than ever before.
 Beneath the surface, however, Is current of worry-ugly, har- assing, disturbing worry. Espe- cially is 1t prevalent in high places. Cabinet members turn up at staff meetings, tired, pale and silent. They have been working late into the night, and they are full Of anxiety.
 They are pondering the most decisive crossroads the United States has faced since the Civil War--perhaps in all our history. It Is the crossroads of whether to declare war.
 The seriousness of the British situation has been known for Q long time. But never has 1t been SO graphically and so distressingly painted as by Ambassador Win- ant, who returned for the express purpose of warning that the drib- lets of munitions we have been sending Britain would not save her; that speeches would not save her; that nothing would save her except the full force of the Amer ican fleet.
 "GIVE UP OR
 BE BOMBED OUT"
 This is what causes such sleep less nights at the White House. The president knows that the American people do not want war. He knows that the country is not yet prepared for war. Yet he also knows that probably nothing short of 8 declaration of war will stiffen British morale, give Q Sufii- cient shock to German morale, and electrify U. s. labor and in- dustry into patriotic defense pro- duction.
 He also knows that the decl- sion must come soon. Because Hitler is out to administer the coup de grace to England within six weeks. Because after that American help may be too late. After the British fleet may be crippled or gone. After that the United States may have the vast reaches of the Atlantic and the Pacific to guard all by itself. After that, finally, the Monroe Doctrine will not be worth the paper it Is written on.
 That is the reason for the gloom in high places.
 The squirrels may frolic on the White House lawn. Lovers may bask in the moonlight along the Potomac. But over t...c White House hovers the grim realization that as far as bulwarking Great Britain is concerned 1t is now or never.
 AMERICA FIRST
 Privately, some America First generalissimos aren't happy about certain elements attached to their organization.
 In fact, the inner command is sharply divided over the question of issuing a formal repudiation of Bundist, Communist and similar groups which have been very prominent at America First ral- lies.
 John T. Flynn, financial writ CT and . top America First man, has been demanding that this be done. At Che last Llndbergh meeting i'm Madison Square Garden, Flynn tried to keep large blocks of tickets out of the hands of Fascist clements. When this failed, Flynn took