Evening star., 1941-01-31

Army In order to continue any sort
of national existence. I we'll realize
the sacrifices that our people will
have to make to maintain their lib
critics in such a world and 1 believe
that we should now do everything
that we can to keep the British
Commonwealth of Nations from
being overcome by the terrible new
system of government that has
arisen In Germany. For myself, I
prefer to live in a world governed
by a victorious democracy rather
than by victorious Hitler.
Suppose, contrary to my own view,
we concentrate our full effort on
building up our ships, and troops,
and aircraft, and stand aside and
accept the chance of a complete
German victory over Britain. AS I
understand their arguments, that is
the course that the opponents Of the
lend-lease plan would have this
Government pursue.
am ready to admit that we might
be able to arm ourselves so heavily
that it would become impossible for
the axis powers to bring their mill
tary power directly against us across
the seas, and to defeat us here in
our own territory. The costs of such
armaments would be great and they
would bear very heavily upon our
people. But let us admit, for the
sake Of the argument, that we could
bear these burdens and that we
could build up the fleets and armies
we would need to fend of a direct
invasion. Would we, then, be safe
from axis attack?
Would Not Be Safe
From Axis Attack.
I say that no, decidedly, we would
not be safe. The Nazi method is
plain to all, and it is to win by any
means, direct TO indirect.
Latin America has great potential
wealth, principally in raw materials.
It's natural customer is Europe, be-
cause the United States can only
consume a part of the Latin Amer
lean exports. Heretofore Great
Britain, Germany, Italy and other
European nations have competed for
the greater part of these exports,
and the competition has been to the
advantage of our neighbors. But
with the NaZis in supreme control
there would be but one European
customer.
We can be very sure that the de-
vious diplomatic, economic and po-
litical methods which Germany has
employed toward all the countries
near her would also in the future
be employed in the regions to the
south of us. First would come eco
nomic penetration, next economic
dependence, then political immigra-
ton and political interference. After
that we would see the establishment
of puppet regimes under Nazi or
native control, and finally the arm
ing of those countries, and their
military domination by Nazis. The
cycle would be complete European
militarism would be established in
a world that has had the atmosphere
of peace and freedom.
Whether the methods are direct
or indirect, this hemisphere is now
in grave danger Of foreign invasion.
Other Selfish Reasons
For Backing Britain.
Aside from reasons of national
safety, we have many other selfish
reasons for desiring to see the Brit
ish nation continue in existence. The
type of civilization that has been
developed in the United Kingdom
has conditioned the development
of American civilization. Our social,
our economic and our political sys-
TENS were brought to this new world
many years ago as transplantations
from the British systems. Close
personal contacts and a constant
exchange of ideas between the
American and the British peoples
have nourished the sturdy growth
Of the American national life whose
roots lie embedded in British soil.
From a cultural standpoint it
would be calamity for us if British
life were uprooted and replaced by
Nazi growth. Even those of our
citizens whose lineage leads back
to parts of the world other than
Britain must feel that their greatest
benefits from life in this country
are connected with stability of the
institutions which Britain originated
and which we have adapted to our
own form of civilization.
/ have a high appreciation of the
keen sense Of national strategy in
herent in the American character,
and I believe that our people now are
determined to put forth their full
efforts for saving Britain and thus
saving themselves from the burdens
of future nilitarism and war, and
from an overturn of American life.
I believe they want this bill to pass
Movement 10 Free