Evening star., 1943-05-23


Churchill and his party of 80 strategists,
experts and political advisers have COM
pleted their job we may expect dramatic
developments in the next few months.
What prompted the British leader to
rush to Washington with the largest
staff that has ever accompanied him on
such a visit was the fact that the col
lapse of the Axis forces in North Africa
much ahead of the schedule placed be-
fore the two western allies set of
strategic problems which had to be de-
cided under the eyes of the two civilian
leaders from whom the military men in
both London and Washington draw
their principal inspiration.
In these days of total war it is not
possible to divorce high politics from
strategy Hence, the necessity that Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill should
overload the meetings of their chief mill
tary men.
The fundamental differences which
existed between the American and
British strategists are inherent to the
temperament Of the people of both
countries
We in this country want to do job
as quickly as possible and get on to the
next task The British have a less mer-
Curial temperament Whereas our slo-
gan is do it now" the British for CEN
turies have adopted the French saving,
Hatez vous lentement," which me ms
hurry slowly"
Precedents for Slow War.
IN their long experience they have
discovered that the enemy can be beaten
If they take their time. The empire
was built by slow conquest. The Span
.ards in the 10th century were beaten
slowly. And Napoleon met his nemesis
at the hands of the British in a slow
process.
The wisdom of not rushing things is
fully recognized by our military men.
But while this is an excellent thing in
war which involves only one group of
nations fighting in only one section of
the globe, it is a questionable philosophy
when We, the people Of the United States,
must not only fight TIE world but also
be chief contributor III order to keep it
alive by providing it with the bulk of
its needs in raw and manufactured ma
terals
The lease lend goods which we are
sending abroad are not confined to war
materials. They cover a multitude of
articles ranging from heavy bombers and
tanks to butter and shoes.
Moreover, when the Nazis have been
defeated the main danger to the British
Isles will be eliminated. AS far as this
country is concerned, however, the heav-
lest part of the war-the fight against
Japan-may just be starting.
The Nipponese empire is not as dam
gerous to Great Britain as it is to us.
The worst that can happen to the British,
should circumstances require negotiated
peace in the Pacific, would be the loss of
some territories such as Malaga That
Is to say, the loss of some heretofore
profitable, but now questionable, invest
ments
We have no investments to speak of in
the Pacific. In the light of our prospec-
tive national Indebtedness at the end of
the war, which some place as high as
$500000 900, the Investments of the
United States in that area are infin-
itesimal.
An Unhappy Choice
But Japan, unless smashed completely
and destroyed as military power, will
become In less than a quarter Of a CEN
tury the most formidable enemy this
country has ever had The choice before
us is either to accept the fact and trv
as best we can to get along with that
new yellow power, or maintain our mill
tary establishments at such peak that
dozens of more billions will be needed to
guard our people against another war in
the Pacific.
Neither of these choices can possibly
be accepted by either the military or the
political men. Hence, we are determined
to go after the Japanese with everything
at our disposal, even If we have to do
1t alone
Mr.. Churchill has reiterated in WASH
ington the pledges he gave us at Casa
blanca and which were later confirmed
by Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden dur
Ing his visit to the United States, that
Great Britain will march on our side in
the crusade against Japan and help us
destroy that power militarily.
The assurances given by the British
Prime Minister have been most encour-
aging particularly since so many mis-
construed his speech last March which
was interpreted to mean that Britain
Will have only restricted force on our
side in the Pacific.
But, while nobody is entitled to doubt
the assurances of the British govern
ment, it shall not be forgotten that Brit
ain is as much democracy as ourselves
and that she can change governments to
suit the purposes of her people.
The question whether the British peo-
pie, having bled so heavily In the de-
struction of Hitler, will be willing to
authorize their government to continue
the war 10000 miles away from their
country is one which nobody can answer
now.
Hence, the American Srategists must
figure on all possibilities and must make
their plans accordingly, taking into con-
sideration the resources and the temper
Of this country.
The general staff once had maps and
plans, back in 1880, and even earlier.
dealing with operations in Albania. Tur-
key, the Middle East and South America.
Many people, including professional mill
tary men. smiled when they saw them.
About Is years ago when we lived in the
era OF pacts and outlawry of war these