Evening star., 1942-02-09

and the admin David Lawrence
istration has succeeded in squelch-
ing an inquiry by the House Naval
Affairs Committee.
So far as public opinion is con-
cerned, it is to be allowed to con-
tinue to suppose that Admiral Kim
mel and Gen. Short were the only
ones responsible, that the American
naval situation since Pearl Harbor
has been satisfactory and that all
mistakes have now been remedied
by changes In personnel or policy.
Many members Of Congress and
many correspondents here know that
this isn't the true picture and that
naval officers whose advice and
warnings concerning the Far East
were given frankly in 1899 and 1910
are still out of favor, having been
reproved for daring to tell the truth
1t Is known also that somebody
high up in Washington ordered the
concentration Of the fleet at Pearl
Harbor, where the japanese had
a splendid target for a surprise
attack. 1t is known also that there
has been considerable interference
by civilian officials in the affairs
and high strategy Of the Navy.
No Time for Court Martial.
But the administration has de-
cided that this is not the time to
air such a controversy as would
arise, Of course, if court-martial
proceedings were held and the de-
fense counsel had an opportunity
to cross-examine witnesses. The
reason undoubtedly for suppression
Is that it would take too much time
of high officials for such a court
martial to be held and that, besides,
every energy now should be bent
toward the future rather than the
past.
This is logical position to as
sumo provided along with 1t the
Nation is not permitted to become
complacent about the future. In
the last fortnight much has been
said and written about complacency
Already certain labor unions have
violated their pledge to the President
and strikes as usual have been re-
sumed in certain defense plants.
Similarly, the Auto Workers Union
has projected demand for COM
pulsory unionism in all the de-
fense plants of General Motors.
Also, the same C. I. o. union is de-
manding double pay for weekend
work and R. J. Thomas, head of the
Auto Workers Union, is serving no.
tice on Donald Nelson that he can't
succeed unless he lets labor partici-
pate in the management function as
provided in the so-called Reuther
plan.
Gen. Macarthur and his men do
not get double time or even overtime
for fighting "a hours at time and
on Sundays and holidays. The tax
laws are being revised virtually to
confiscate the profits of manage
ment. The big auto industry has
had all its tools and machines
scrapped or removed for the dura-
tion of the war so that no more
autos could be built this year even
If they were permitted.
Only Washington Complacent.
Only in official Washington where
politics-as-usual and class privilege
as usual abound is there a compla-
cent attitude about the war. The
letters from outside of Washington
indicate that the American people
are beginning to suspect that only
favorable news is being given out,
that casualties are being concealed,
and that the administratio is in
terested more in hiding its own in
efficiency and coddling its political
supporters than in being candid
with the public.
But the administration has abso-
lutte power. Only in the British
democracy can the Parliament
check up on those entrusted with
public power. Small wonder that