Evening star., 1941-08-07

loyalty 10 pro- David Lawrence.
longed war is concerned. Travellers
recently returned from Germany
say that the one thing the German
people fear is the American entry
into the war. Their recollection of
the 1918 experience is vivid. The
impression that Hitler has tried
to create ever since September,
1889, is that Nazi victory will
come before American aid can be-
come effective. American aid has
made possible the present air Of
fensive of the R. A. F. because
American planes have increased
the total airplane force and it is
no longer necessary to keep all
planes in reserve for defensive
operations.
Also, the German people have
been told that England started the
war, but this does not explain the
war against Russia, which Hitler
plainly began. America plays q
large part in the whole picture.
The fact that the United States
is extending aid to Russia as we'll
as to other foes of Germany elm
mates the argument which the
Nazis counted on, namely that the
barrier of Communism would in
fiuence both Mr.. Churchill and Mr..
Roosevelt.
Could Dramatize Cola boration.
A conference of these two leaders
would afford the British broad
casters an opportunity to tell the
people Of the conquered countries,
as we'll as the German people, that
big decisions are in the making,
and it will further emphasize the
close collaboration which exists
between the American and British
governments. While this collabora-
ton Is a commonplace to Ameri-
cans, 1t Is by no means clear to
the German people, who have been
fed twisted and distorted impress
sions of American policy. A meet
ing between Hitler and Mussolini
has been big news In Europe and
has been construed to be the fore
runner of momentous happenings.
Europe looks upon meetings of the
heads Of two states as of trans
cendent Importance. Perhaps both
Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Churchill
have had this in mind, and If
meeting takes place, it may prove
to have been a motivating factor.
The British are giving far more
attention to the morale of the peo-
pie in the occupied countries than
heretofore. The "V" campaign and
the reports of sporadic riots indicate
that the strategists who deal in
morale are having more and more
to say about the propaganda often
sives. This type of warfare had
much to do with the winning of the
last war and the same psychology
has been effectively used by the
Na1s In their build-up of the i'm
preston of invincibility and the
uselessness of resistance.
Avoids Spying Threat.
Entirely apart from the propa-
ganda value of a Churchill -Roose-
welt meeting, there are certain mat
ters which can best be dealt with
in a direct talk between these two
heads of governments. The radio,
the cables, the mails and the in
ternational telephones have some
risk of Nazi espionage and that is
one reason why both governments
have recently been sending special
envoys back and forth. Business of
a momentous nature can, however,
not always be carried on by in
termediaries.
It Is obvious that the war has
reached a stage where it is necessary
for the United States to know just
how far Britain Is willing to risk
her army and navy in counteroffen-
sive against the Nazis. Anybody
who knows the remarkable part
played by Franklin Roosevelt as
Assistant Secretary of the Navy in
the last war will understand that
he believes in strong offensive
as being the best defense. He may
want to know what the British are
planning and what they can be ex-
pected to do with the lease-lenc
materials being sent to them.
May Give Intimate Details.
It is to be expected that Mr.
Churchill would express himself
fully and give Mr.. Roosevelt the
benefit of his intimate and con
fldential knowledge of what is hap
pening inside the German lines, a.
well as in the occupied territories
Perhaps Mr.. Churchill would give
the President his slant on the Rudolf
Hess affair, which is unquestionably
one of the biggest secrets of the
war thus far.
If Mr.. Churchill and Mr. Roose.
welt have planned to meet, they
would certainly endeavor to keeI
the place and time secret so as tt
prevent any interference with the
British Prime Minister'S movement
to and from England by plane. Thi
IS desirable precaution and it ma!
we'll be that the first confirmation
Of the actual meeting of these twt
men may not come until the meet