The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-12-05

and sometimes decisive support our
organization and it's frends have
given him.
SEE EYE To EYE
Apart from these specific
points. we assume there is a fourth
ground for agreement between US:
namely. the proposition that Hit
ler's furious drive against Moscow.
his threat to Soviet oil lands. the
joint Nazi-Finnish operations en-
dangering the Murmansk route for
American aid. Nszi pressure TO
force Japan into an uncompromis-
ing attitude toward the United
States, and the torpedoing Of U. S.
destroyers and shipping-all con-
stitute a definite, direct and In
acceptable danger TO the security
and effective defense Of our nation.
IF We are agreed thus far, 1t
should be simple to dispose Of the
relatively minor question Of how
we came 10 be in disagreement; for
our discussion can confine itself,
not 10 seeing who can make more
miscellaneous at the expense of
the other. but to finding whether
the complaints you make against
the WCF are justified and to what
degree they help or hinder the
widest possible unity of action for
the defeat of Hitlerism as the best
defense OF the freedom OF our peo-
pie and the Independence Of our
nation.
READY TO FIGHT
In answer to your allegation,
then. that the WCF. which. you
say. was formerly above all,
against war suddenly began
'clamoring loudly for American in
teryention' because Of special rela-
tons which you mistakenly imply
exist between our organization and
the Soviet union, our reply Ia:
First, all WcF policies are
adopted by majority vote Of con-
vention delegates are at regular
meetings of our elected directors
and officers. They are based ex-
clusively on what the delegates and
directors think will best serve the
interest Of the plain men and
women Of our state.
Second, the WCF was never
above all, against war. regardless
OF whether the war was for de-
Tense or aggression, for independ-
ence or for empire. Like the great
majority Of Americans, we are
ready to fight in defense Of our
homes and free institutions, but
we prefer peace.
WANTED PEACE
ITO keep America out of war,
We worked for President Roose-
velt's policy OF 'quarantining ag-
gressors.' We helped the Spanish.
Ethiopian. Chinese and other peo-
Piles fighting for their freedom,
and We urged collaboration be-
tween the great powers, France,
Britain, the Soviet union and the
United States to stop the outbreak
Of war anywhere in the world As
a guarantee that our country could
remain at peace.
There has never been 4 time
when we would accept for Amer
lea without fighting the kind Of
peace which Hitler and his part
ners at Munich brought to the
people Of France and Of sixteen
other European nations.
Third, the WCF urged our gov
eminent to take no sides in the
war which broke out after Munich
because we regarded that phase Of
the war not as directed toward the
defeat of fascism, but as a con-
tinuation on the battlefield of the
struggle between Maxi Germany
and its British and French appeas-
ers in a final effort to decide
whether Hitler should be compelled
to march against Russia at once
(which was the Chamberlin-D Dalai
der position) or whether he should
first be allowed to over-run Eu-
rope and the older empires (which
was Hitler's demand).
SEEK JUST PEACE
Americas best interests, We
felt, could only be served by re-
naming out of that war and estab-
fishing friendly relations with the
only other strong neutral. the So
Wet union, TO stop Japanese ag-
gression against China. to limit the
spread OF the war in Europe. and
TO hold our country in readiness to
help make a Just peace.
And fourth, the WCF DOES
now support decisive American in
PREVENTION. because Hitler's attack
upon Russia leaves our country
without any possibility Of building
strong. neutral alliances and DEM
onstrates the futility of a nego-
tiated peace: because the defeat
OF the Red army and the control
Of Russian resources by Hitler
would directly endanger the free
existence Of the United States: and
because Russia's splendid resist
ance offers the world its first real
opportunity to crush fsscism.
MINDS ARE CHANGED
Washington Commonwealth fed
GRAFTON was not alone in recogniz-
ing the new world situation Gre
ated by Hitler's attack upon the
Soviet union and in quickly max
ing corresponding changes in pol
icy. On one day in England, the
king and queen, the archbishop of
Canterbury, the primate Of all
English Catholics. and the chief
English rabbi all knelt in their
respective chspels and prayed for