Evening star., 1941-01-07
Answers Food Plea
Of Mrs. Lindberoh
Says Injustice to Britain
Is Involved in Proposal
To Feed War Victims
To the Editor of The Star:


To Feed War Victims
To the Editor of The Star:
Anne Lindbergh's radio appeal of De-
cember "a for food to be sent to the
peoples of the conquered countries of
Europe may arouse dissenting voices and
the feeling that her advocacy of the pro-
ject is not altogether reasonably based.
Mrs. Lindbergh defends her stand at
one point by stating: ITO act in the
spirit of Christian mercy is good busi-
ness" Yes, it is a good business; it is
even more than that; it is the duty and
privilege of every man, woman and child
to act in the spirit of Christian mercy.
However, that which is called an act of
Christian mercy sometimes may be open
to a different Interpretation. One great
example of Christian mercy, often re-
ferred to, is the story of the Good Samar-
itan related in the New Testament. The
Good Samaritan, according to the Bibli-
cal account, did not merely succor the
wounded man. found lying by the way
side, with little food and then, in self
righteousness, continue on his way. No,
We are told, he bound up his wounds, and
carried him to an inn, and took care of
him -.
Today, in the name of Christian mercy,
what is the Good Samaritan role that
Mrs. Lindbergh and the groups she spon-
sors would play in the distressed areas of
Europe? Would they aid these suffering
peoples by any attempt to liberate them
from the bonds that fetter them and
make them an hungered? No. cry Mrs.
Lindbergh and many members of these
groups, we must do nothing that will
risk our own comfort, our own peace,
either for these or any other peoples; We
will merely send over food. No-they
would take safe way, an easy way of
being heralded as the worlds great
humanitarians.
And what of the real spirit of Christian
mercy? Is it included in this proposed
venture? An act of Christian mercy
may be defined in part as an act which
accrues to the benefit of or affords a
blessing to all concerned. Therefore, any
act which does not accrue to the benefit
of all, which includes in its performance
may be said to cease to be an act of
Christian mercy.
The proposed sending of food to these
Europeans does direct an injustice to-
ward England. 1t may be only a po-
tential injustice, but it is there. The in
justice is that in proportion to the food
We send to these conquered peoples just
in that proportion do We enable Hitler
to seize whatever of food these peoples
may have stored or whatever they may
produce. even though he does not actually
confiscate the food we send over. We
would therefore not only make it possible
for him Hitler to tighten his hold on
these unfortunate peoples, but we would
also strengthen his position against Eng
land and jeopardize the effectiveness of
her blockade. a blow which this be-
leaguered nation can i'll afford at this
time.
Again, concerning negotiations which
she asserts England is making, Mrs
Lindbergh states: These facts 60 to
substantiate ones belief that the English
people . do not want to starve the
people of hitherto democratic nations
if practical way out can be found"
Mrs. Lindbergh's insinuation is that
England probably wants to starve the
peoples of the hitherto democratic ma
tions and does not share our own noble
desire to be of help to them.
ENGLAND tioeSo r,enr,1eo
England in whose self-sacriice, courage
and valor. lies their only hope of liberia
ton from the bonds that enslave them?
No. England does not want to starve
these people England is doing that
which We will not do; that which Mrs.
Lindbergh is particularly loud in protest
that We shall not do; England is sacri-
ficing and risking her all, in untold blood
and suffering, that these people as we'll
as herself may be free; that we may be
free; that our world may be free.
1t appears unseemly that we, who
will take no risk whatever in behalf of
other peoples, should so arrogantly de-
, mand that what we are pleased to call
our benevolent plans-made at no risk to
ourselves-should have the right of way,
even to the point of aiding the enemies
and lessening the effectiveness of the
defenses of people who are not only
willing to make but are making the
supreme sacrifice.
Let us be honest. Let us not try to
delude ourselves and others with the idea
of what great humanitarians we are Let
us, when we are unwilling to take any
risk ourselves in behalf of other peoples,
at least take no step that will even re-
motely hinder or place greater burden
on those Ohe British in this instance)
who are giving their all that the things
we hold dear-life, liberty, and the pur-
suit of happiness-shall not perish from
the earth. Aida BEALE.
Believes Californians Differ
| From Senator Johnson.
| To the Editor Of The Star:
We learn today that Senator Hiram
johnson has said: II am off to the
wars!" Amt that relief? We all had