The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-03-23

OenVeT TeSeH c n OrBontzatkOnS
and some contracts for survey work
were let to commercial market an
Alysis outfits. For opinions OF the
war workers, there were intensive
interviews In northern indus
trial centers. One report on
postwar opinion was based on cor.
respondence with newspaper editors,
and so on.
Interest IN postwar problems In
creased In the United states right
after the invasion Of North Africa
and the military and naval success
es In the. Pacific. Up TO the end Of
1912, however, few. people were
/ found to have any definite ideas on
the subject, other than q general
negative hope-no more wars, no
more depressions, no more revolu-
tons.
POSTWAR FEARS
There was found to be LITTLE doubt
that the United States would event.
ually win the war, but there was q
very definite expression Of fear
fear that the postwar world was
going to be terrible, fear OF the re.
sponsibilities OF having to police
the postwar world, fear that U. s.
peacemakers would lose the peace.
fear Of England and Russia, fears
that fuller collaboration with other
nations would mean lowered tariffs,
lowered immigration restrictions,
more competition from foreign labor
resulting q lowered standard Of liv-
ing in the United States.
In other words, the basic fear was
Of postwar unemployment, de-
preston, continuing higher costs Of
living. People In general seemed 10
be interested In world security only
after assurance Of economic Secur-
ity ct home.
This point Of view found It's eX-
IRENE statement from vigorous mi.
nority advocating American domina-
iton Of the world. While six Of every
10 persons sampled favored y. 8.
participation in o world organiza.
ton to maintain peace and the same
number favored setting UP such an
organization before the end Of the
war, the extremist position Of the
minority was that OF many former
ISoiatIoniStS who would now support
the world organization only II they
could be sure that y. s. would dom.
mate II.
DECLINE OF IsOLATTONISM
BY December the surveys hegan to
show that isolationisnn no longer
spelled security and fewer than 20
per cent were opposed firmly to the
principle Of international collabora-
ton. Thinking on postwar subjects
was still pretty muddied, however,
10 per cent OF the people interviewed
having no suggestions whatever on
better postwar world. Few people
were found TO believe In free trade,
many favored protective tariffs, and
about 10 per cent thought America
shouldn't trade with any foreign
countries at ell. A striking discovery
was the degree Of ignorance on the
extent to which all nations and the
United States In particular deper-
ded on foreign trade.
BY January, February and the
early part Of March. opinion was
crystallizing and few definite ideas
were taking shape.
Seventy-geyeu per cent favored
complete disarmament Of the enemy
and U. 8. participation in a world
police force.
eeventy-eight rer cent thought
q. 8. should continue TO feed and
help retabiIltate other countries,
even IL 1t meant continuation Of ra-
tioning at home.
Fifty-seven per cent thought that
II the United Nations won the war,
u. 8. would dominate the peace.
SeVentytwo per cent insisted U. 8.
should start making plans for post
war full employment now.
Sixty.two per cent felt the gov"
eminent would exercise more con-
troll Of business after the war,
though only % per cent felt It
should.
But the whole subject Of postwar
planning was still o confused jun
bic Of hopes and fears and repen-
tious Of lot Of the thinking Of the
1905. Need for clear statements Of
postwar policies and aims Is there
fore obvious.