Evening star., 1943-10-31


a part without raising storm of furor
and resentment throughout the United
Kingdom and the empire. -; --s,
NV admiration for the British people
is almost .eXtraVagant, but it must be
remembered that think and speak as
a citizen and a Senator of the United
States. What I saw was through Amer
lean eyes. I observed. weighed and ,
reported as an American who properly
holds the future welfare of these United
States above any other consideration.
I would regret if any word of mine
should cause dlsSension or i'll feeling
between the United States and any OF
our Allies. but if that word be necessary
to protect a legitimate vital interest,
either during this war or in the post
war world, I would still feel duty
bound to speak.
Speaks in Good Faith.
The chain which binds the United
Nations together is frail indeed If
there are links which cannot stand the
strain of expression of opinion made in
good faith in the parliamentary bodies
of democracy. There are a few who
have expressed the opinion that it is
sheer impertinence for a member Of the
American Congress to discuss our re-
lations with the British or the part
being played by them in the war Such
people would do we'll to observe the
fine restraint and poise shown by the
x1,ho iolc IF ho
British Empire tell US what is expected
of us, and adopt it as model of
future behavior.
Only a few days ago that pillar of
empire and great world figure, Gen.
Smuts, in a speech which was widely
publicized throughout the world, as an
expression of Official British opinion,
told the people of the United States
very frankly that we were expected
to furnish in large measure the men
who will make the bloody assault to
breach Hitler's fortress of Europe. Few
cations of Gen. Shuts statement. The
lives of American boys are infinitely
more precious to us than all the ma
terial which will ever be handled under
lease-lend Nevertheless. Gen. Smuts
statement did not evoke any great
public resentment and outcry in the
United States. The President did not
send a message to Congress comment
ing with thinly veiled sarcasm on ad-
vice from abroad. I have not seen in
the American press caricatures of Gen
Smuts, ridiculing him for making q
public. statement as to what he con-
sidered the obligation of America ir
the performance of its duty to the
common effort. , I have not heard o1
any member of Congress becoming
unduly excited. s-
Expect to Do Our Part.
Every patriotic American expects oul
country to do it's full part in this war
but I do not believe that doing ou
part requires us SO to keep our ligh
under a bushel that, where permitted
to think. we are expected to speak IL
whispers of the contribution of ou
own country to the cause of Alice
victory.
I therefore am not greatly disturbed
by that portion of the American pres
OF officialdom which sees ghosts ever
time any person in American publ
life has the temerity to suggest that
is proper for our Allies to appreciat
the extent of our efforts and sacrifice
ip this war as we, appreciate thei
efforts and sacrifices. We have com
to a pretty pass If 9 citizen OF tn
United States cannot support wit
wholehearted devotion the cause q
his own country without subjectin