Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-03
BY HUGH :. JOHNSON

fNfiitE ~ Attithi ass "a iAtR
stop Hitler in the opening Of the
1871 Spring offensive in World
War IL Is very encouraging.
Perhaps it is TOO early 10
begin drawing any conclusions
about them. War is a good deal
like a football game Regardless
of spectacular plays ana adj
vances either way, there is no
payon until the final figures are
flashed on the Scoreboard and
we can really see whose number
Is up
But there is one thought ariS-
ing from all these Notwithstanding
events upon which this column
has always insisted and which
seems 10 be emphasized by
everything that IS happening
now.
II r. Hiatt III ttiitt- t'tfoie history
OF the world the rise of any
great and monaclng power IN
Nariably has begotten and in
Spired a counter-punch which. IN
the end, has always. IN one way
or another checked and ire
quently destroyed 1t.
Carthage WIS stopped ny
Rome. Rome by barbarian re-
sistance, the barbarian kingdoms
by several spiritual and military
risings, for example, those of
Christianity the religion of Mo-
manned and the remarkable
interlude OF GhengiS Khan.
Spain. which threatened 10 COB
BILE the globe. Stubbcd her toe on
the rising sea-power of Eng
land. Napoleon oVer-reached IN
Russia and William Iohenzoll-
ern took in too much territory.
WITH these invariable ex-
w ampleS in mind. il always
has seemed to fAe that before
committing our country head
long to the terrible hazards,
costs and sacrifices of war. our
obvious common-SenSe course
was to make ourselves as strong
as our resources would permit
as fast as our genius for unity
production. organization and ac-
ton would take uS-and then
keep out i'm what StrategiSts
call "a position in readiness" to
watch the ranging of forces in
an alien world in which our ma
terial interest is not great and
our political interest is next to
nothing. That began to be adj
vocated in this space. not Just
in 1910. but six years ago
1t was urged To the contrary
that the AXIS was about to
dominate the earth and that
urging was by people who didn't
say in public but made no bones
in private about their thought
that the fate Of humanity DC
ponds on our about engagement
IN bloody war 1t was up TO us
10 become tho counter-powcr
which would redress the wrongs
Of all the world
VET the essential interests and
Il known ambitions OF Hitler
can never be composed with
those of Japan or even. in the
end. could Me original Axis
partners Hit and Miss. have fol-
lowed their territorial aSpira-
tons without ciashing.
We had and have no terrific
fsfafi aspirations eefiiitiifffg with
any of +ttIpSe= Wy should we
plunge unthrIftily into bloody
war among these great opposing
forces in Europr Africa and
Asia2 Why should we assume
and more Sacrificial re-
possibilities for the remaking
Of the world
We were told that il is an
absolute necessity TO save our
selves. It surely does not seem
so now Ii such slight powers
as Yugoslavia and Greece can
give ttIller- oxen nlaH4pAta44-
pause on his very borders WHY
should SO great a power as ours.
behind 1000 miles of sea water.
get into a panic Of fear and H.
considered action
'TIuS. is not to criticize any
i defensive steps taken or pol
lcies $50 far IS they have been
revealed by our government IN
the. past Two years Except for
The terrible delay and 'bunder-
ing IN American rearmament
and certain questions of method
rather than Of principle. those
things have not been opposed
here.
With constantly descending
We are still told that
we are not rushing into war.
II that is true. the action and
policy Of this administration in
foreign affairs has been master
full.
But that announced admins
tration reservation about enter
ing shooting war Is not the
OF the very vocal and
highly publicized minority which
has been trying 70 push public
opinion 10 the pitch of outright
combat
Il rs tho arguments Of these
extremists rather Than anything
Mr. Roosevelt has done. which
seem to be- shaded II not dis
credited by The headong sweep
OF recent rlllilary and diplo-
=. ..sal...4