Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-20
Stop All Aid
To France,
U. S. Urged
Congress Now Ready
TO Take Firm Stand
By GEO. ROTHWELL BROWN
Special 10 THE DETROIT TIMES

Special TO THE DETROIT TIMES
TIIE suspension of all further
4 economic assistance to UNI
occupied France, and the recall
of Ambassador Leahy. is a step
in the direction of realism which
the state department has been,
perhaps, too reluctant to take.
While there is some criticism
of the policy heretofore pursued
by this government toward
Vichy, on the whole it is recog-
nized that it has served the pur-
pose of saving some months Of
valuable time.
Coming as ii does upon the
American governments determi-
nation hereafter to recognize
the Free French control OF
widely scattered parts of the old
French Empire, it means that
events are now moving swiftly
to an inevitable showdown on
the continent.
l find everywhere in Congress
the grimmest determination to
back up a strong policy toward
France by this government
whatever the consequences may
be.
The fate of the French fleet
has become of the utmost con-
Germ TO Congress, which is no
mood to condone such another
disaster as Pearl Harbors or
the sinking of the Normandie.
Very grave criticism would
follow any negligence by those
responsible, if this fleet were
permitted to fall into Hitler's
hands.
TiE unanimity OF congress
Il sional opinion with regard
to the American policy toward
France has been shown in the
debates and speeches during the
past few days.
The opinion was strongly ex-
pressed on Wednesday in a
speech by Rep. Charles l. Faddis
of Pennsylvania, Democratic
member of the House military
affairs committee. He said in
the course of these remarks:
Because of our many years
OF friendship, our love of de-
mocracy and the former high
code of honor of the French
people, we had hoped that
France would refuse To he
party to Hitler's rape of civili-
Zation.
THAT HOPE HAS CAR
RIED US MUCH FARTHER
ALONG THE ROAD OF AP-
PEASEMENT THAN CAN BE
JUSTIFIED BY SOUND JUDO
MENT.
I'VE hope that the French peo-
pie will rise I'm their wrath and
prevent these traitorous leaders
from leading them any further
down the road to destruction.
"AS FOR US, THIS MUST BE
THE PARTING OF THE WAY.
I'VE are fighting for our very
lives. All who are against our
Allies are against us. We must
30 class them. now and after
the war.
This time, as last time, the
free men of free countries will
win the war. There can be no
question about that. Let II be
understood, however, that the
end of this war will be far diff
ferent from the end OF the last.
This time we are determined
that for the expenditure of so
much of our blood and our treas
ure we will visit a just measure
Of retribution upon those resp0n-
sible for or ASSISTING IN the
Initiation or prosecution of this
heIlish program of mass enslave-
ment. torture, murder and assas-
sination."
MIR. FADDIS told the House
4'A bluntly that he favorS the
gallows for all those responsible
for this war.
In some respects IL Is unde-
niably true that Congress is lag
ging far behind the people.
This is especially so with re-
gard TO labor legislation. and the
curtailment of non-essential
non-defense spending.
But If there is any sentiment
in the country at large in favor
Of soft peace short of about
victory, then Congress is ahead
of the people in that respect.
for Congress is virtually unani-
mously of the opinion that the
war must go on to a Knockout.
The disasters that began with
Pearl Harbor have not broken
the morale of Congress. But il is
in no mood TO see the Allies bum
gle this matter of the French
fleet.