Imperial Valley press., 1941-01-03
WHATS THE MATTER WITH
A PEACE PROPOSAL?

President Roosevelt and Senator Bur
ton K. Wheeler ought to get together.
They won't-but they ought to.
Wheeler has been set up as spokesman
for the solationists and others who OPP
pose the Presidents program for help
ing enemies of the Axis powers. HIS
most direct statement of opposition poll-
CIV was criticism of Mr.. RoOsevelt's
recent fireside talk-the famous "arsenal
of democracy pronouncement.
1t was astonishing what little differ
ence there was, in actual fact, between
the things Sen. Wheeler professed to be-
lieve and the things President Roosevelt
stands for.
The biggest difference-the one upon
which the other differences are founded
was in Sen Wheeler'S demand for an
effort on the part of the United States
to bring about peace, before tanning the
flames of war to new and greater heat.
And why not?
A negotiated peace would not neceS-
sarily be appeasement. 1t could be, on
the other hand, far more far than any
peace arrived at after one side or the
other had achieved victory, and thus
gained a position from which to dictate
terms to the other side, no matter how
harsh the terms. Remember Versailles?
Its mistakes are generally recognized as
the real cause of the present war. Would
not a fair, negotiated peace at this time
be better than another Versailles, later
on?
Not so much upon the present war, as
upon the peace terms which follow 1t,
will depend the future of world his
tory. If the United States can take a
hand now in an effort to assure a talr
peace-one that is fair to all concerned
la
sake of the world to come?
An effort by the United States TO bring
about peace now would not mean that
we would slow down in the slightest de-
gree our plans for helping Great Brit
ain. nor reduce whatever help we are now
giving her. 1t would not mean that we
would interrupt our own defense pro-
gram. 1t would not mean any conces-
sion at all to dictatorship.
Probably such an effort would meet
with failure, because it is extremely
doubtful that Adolf Hitler, especially,
would accent terms which the rest of
the world might consider fair. But,
when he refused to accept such terms,
he would be shouldered beyond the shad-
ow of a doubt with guilt for continuing
the conflict.
If. on the other hand, Hitler should
surprise everyone by agreeing to falr
terms, and Britain should refuse to ac-
cept them, should not that be a signal
for the United States ito reconsider its
present policy?
WHAT OF PEACE TERMS?
Admittedly an effort to bring about a
fair peace-with emphasis on the word
fair = would be doubtful of success
from the outset But, even though the
chances against success are 80 to l, the
one chance in favor of an end to hostili-
ties seems worth the while.
Of the peace terms themselves, disarm-
ament would have to be one of the cardi-
nal points. Disarmament complete en-
ough for all nations, to assure against
repetition of blitzkriegs and mass war
fare Trade agreements would have to
be part of them, and cooperation among
nations.
Fair terms, assuring peace for future
history. might very well be reached now,
with the beligerents all but stalemated,
whereas they will be next to impossible
when one nation or group of nations is
in the position of beaten begging, sup
plant party trying only to salvage what
ever self respect is possible out of defeat
land planning secretly for another day,
when another war shall come.)1