Evening star., 1943-08-01
Domestic PIonninq
Neglected
By OUen L. Scott.

pTeQlCJ III private Lnab J1lS country is
making fundamental mistake in It's
planning for what comes after the war
That planning is devoted almost entirely
to the problems of finding a basis for
new world order and almost not at all
to the problem of adjustment to peace at
home.
The point IS made that everybody
from President Roosevelt down is assum-
ing that prosperity will be assured in the
United Safes for many years to come as
result of the purchasing power being
built up during the war Acting on that
assumption, almost all thought of do
mestic postwar problems is being cast
aside along with the men who are capa-
BILE of doing the planning,
Instead of devoting attention to the
staggering domestic difficulties that
could come with peace, officials are hard
at work on solutions of world difficult
ties ranging all the way from stabiliza-
ton of currencies to methods of pro-
noting and financing public works in
China, South America and Europe
But the idea is beginning to take hold
among some Informed officials here that
this Government may be putting the
cart before the horse. They point out
that the United States accounts for more
than one-half of the economic activity
of the world. They argue that it was the
depression in this country after 1929
that led to the intensified nationalism
in Europe and elsewhere, eliminating in
the present war.
Peril of Past Conditions.
Their point now is that danger exists
Of return to the sort of economic stu
alton inside this country that can upset
any world arrangements that may grow
from the war. 1t is their idea that If the
President and Congress would give pri-
mary thought to the problem of assuring
prosperity in this country once the war
ends, the postwar arrangement would be
easier of solution.
1t is rehabilitation that stands out as
the staggering problem.
once the war ends there will be great
pressure to demobilize the bulk of this
country's armed forces that will by that
n
the same time there will be equally great
pressure to end war production in a
hurry. In war industry there will be
nearly 100000 persons at work. The
country will have an inventory of be-
tween $4,000 000, 900 and 500 900 900 900
in military equipment and will not be in
mood to go on adding to that equip
ment on large scale.
To demobilize 25,OOO,000 or even 90
100000 men from the armed services and
workers from industry, and to do that in
hurry. will require most careful plan
ming. Yet very little If any real plan
ming Is under way.
Little thought is being given to the
problems that will develop in Detroit
or San Diego or Mobile when war in
dustries suddenly throw great numbers
OF men into the street Neither is
thought being given to the problem of
communities that have mushroomed
around great war plants or around cam
tonments. Some of these communities
in the months just ahead will begin to
get. their first shock when ordnance
plants are closed down and when men
move overseas with no additional re-
cruits to take their places in the camps.
1t is assumed that communities and
individuals will work out their own adj
jts'tments and that civilian industry
will quickly mushroom to a volume of
activity that will assure prosperity for
all
Issues Developing.
Some informed Government officials,
however, are not SO sure that 1t is to be
as simple as that. They see labor, wage
and farm price problems of the most
intense sort. They predict a period in
which there will be much internal dis
organization and a sudden public pre-
occupation with domestic problems, un-
less there is careful planning for the
adjustments to come.
1t is in a period of this kind that the
United States, as they see it, can decide
again to forget about the rest of the
world. But owing to the dominant po-
sition Of this country any troubles here
are likely to be reflected quickly in other
parts of the world where people already
will be having their own local troubles.
There is beginning to be a real ques-
ton whether victory in the war Is to
serve automatically to correct the eco
nomic conditions that had so much to
do with generating the forces that led
to the war in the first place
President Roosevelt, as some of his
aides see it, has made up his mind that
the internal problems of this country
can solve themselves if means can b.
found for arranging the political affairs
Of the world on a more stable basis.
These aides, however, incline to the view
that world political stability must rest
first of all upon economic stability in
the United States, with everything built
upon that foundation.
The growing concern is that this Gov
ernment is so wrapped up in world re-
organization that it may be forgetting
the domestic problems that lie ahead.
In forgetting those problems, it may be
opening the way to a situation that will
drive this country and other countries
to postwar nationalism that is stronger
than ever. The reaction that followed
tie last war is being recalled. Much the
same sort Of boom and dehation, witt,
similar effect on foreign policy, could
follow this one.
Augury for Peace
From the New York Times