Evening star., 1941-05-06
Berle Talks
Of i. S. Role
If Nazis Win
Maintaining Our
Economic Life Seen
AS Grinding Job

The United States would be able
to maintain its economic life against
a victorious Germany and Nazi-
dominated Europe, but the process
would be grinding, unhappy and
ghastly business for every one"
Adolph A. Berle, jr., Assistant Sec
retary of State, told members of the
Women's National Democratic Club
yesterday.
Invited to speak at the "Intorma-
ton Hour" sponsored by the club
each week, Mr.. Berle was asked to
discuss the question Can the United
States Maintain It's Economic Life
Against Germany and Nazi-Domi-
mated Europe?"
Mr.. Berle pointed out that he was
assuming such a condition might
exist, in order to answer the ques-
ton, but that he would not concede
1t would happen.
The 130,00O,000 Americans with
the resources they have within their
own borders can do anything they
make up their minds to do, he con-
tended. He warned. however, that
with a Nazi-dominated Europe, "all
the disintegrating processes of eco
nomics and propaganda brought to
bear on France would be employed
in the United States
The United States would not be
competing against only a Nazi-
dominated Europe, he added, but
against German domination over
''most, if not all, of Africa and over
most of Asia"
Italy's Fate Predicted
For Japan if Nazis Win.
The Assistant Secretary predicted
that should Germany conquer Eu-
rope. she would eventually reduce
Japan into the state in which Italy
now is. Thus, he pointed out, Ger
many would be in position to exert
powerful influence in the field of
markets.
The great danger will not be to
our export markets" Mr.. Berle as
serted. but at home. We shall be
in more danger when we sell than
when we buy"
The speaker explained that the
totalitarian method of trade is to
pool the nations entire resources
and trade the whole power against
any one commodity or group OF
businessmen. AS the government
stands behind all trade losses or in
fations in German business houses,
he added. it is possible to ruin COM
petitors either by reducing prices far
below cost or raising prices to a
prohibitive level.
In order to combat the totalitarian
methods of pooling resources for
purchase, the United States would
have to pool its goods and have a
single seller, Mr.. Berle explained.
This would be the end of open
trade as We have known it," he ad-
mitted.
Internal Hatreds
Would Be Stirred Up.
Bringing continued pressure
against the trade and business of
economically independent United
States. the Nazis would endeavor
to take advantage of discomfort
among the people of the nation,
Mr.. Berle predicted.
"An attempt will be made to stir
UP any kind of internal hatred
which looked possible" he warned.
Propaganda would be spread blam-
ing economic distress on a strong
defense program, he continued,
Intrigues would be carried on in
obscure places and small islands in
South American and Pacific waters
would be seized to secure bases for
military use against the United
States.
The United States would be in
constant danger of attack from
Nazi-dominated world, Mr.. Berle de-
clared, and would have to retain
a military organization capable of
meeting any attacks at any time.
He warned of siren voices" which
would complain of unnecessary and
expensive military organization; of
a subversively controlled labor and
censored press and of efforts by
certain persons to pass legislation
acceptable to the overseas powers.
Hard Times Pictured
In Dealing With Menace.
81 think that most Americans
would rather lose their money than
lose their freedom" the assistant
secretary continued. In order to
retain their liberty they would have
to accept great commercial sacri-
fees in the interest of its defense.
I'VE should gradually go through
the business of creating huge mill
tary armament, of sacrificing for
the time being our export trade, of
making the country economically
self sufficient and of waiting for the
inevitable explosion.
When the explosion finally came,
we should probably come out on
top-battered and poor, but so far
ahead of any other country that we
would nevertheless be masters both
of our own destiny and of the des-
tiny of a good deal of the world. I