Evening star., 1943-05-18
Tribute to England
And Her Valiant People.

TO the Eoltor OF Inc star:
It Is fortunate that neither the people
Of Canada nor of the United States took
too seriously the declaration OF Dorothy
Thompson in one Of her recent syndi-
Gated articles that: "Our relations with
the British Empire and Commonwealth
are complicated by the fact that millions
of Americans still see the British as
Red Coats" A natural inference from
this statement is that there are millions
OF Americans" unfriendly to or at least
critical of the British Empire. The fault
with the statement is that 1t takes in
too much territory as we'll as too many
people.
For example: Canada Is a member Of
the British Commonwealth of Nations
but, as Canadian visitors to the republic
gratefully will testify, nowhere In the
United States, either in oflcial circles
or among the masses, is there any un-
friendliness toward Canada or her people.
Striking proof of this is in the harmoni-
Gus relations that for over 100 years
have existed between the two countries,
while it will be recalled that there was
not only no protest in the United States
but. indeed, warm approval when Presi-
dent Roosevelt several years ago at the
convocation proceedings in Queens Uni
versity, Kingston, Ontario, said: "The
Dominion of Canada IS part Of the
sisterhood Of the British Empire. give
you my assurance that the people OF the
United States will not stand idly by II
domination of Canadian soil is threat
ened by any other empire"
Here, then, in the reception given to
that declaration by the people Of the
United States is striking proof that so
far as Canada is concerned the American
people see no specter OF Red Coats"
And the same may be said Of the Amer
ican feeling toward two other members
of the British onwealth-Australia
where American and Australian soldiers
are even now fighting side by side, and
Australia's next-door neighbor In the
Pacific, New Zealand.
There is no desire in this article to
enter into any discussion as to how firm
= foundation there Is for Miss Thomp-
sons statement. The intention here is
solely to present a few facts and figures
concerning England, her sacrifices and
her heroisms, in the hope that such
presentation will soften the hearts Of
some of Miss Thompson's millions" and
make them perhaps trifle more kindly
and tolerant in their judgment. Here,
them are the facts without any refer
ence whatever to England's fighting
forces and their exploits, presented in
the hope that they may be charitably
received:
Already $4,000 Britons have been killed
in air raids; nearly 100000 more have
been injured, while the property damage
runs into hundreds Of millions Of pounds.
Out Of 100000 people in Britain
between the ages of IA and IS, 23,500, 900
now are in full-time work for the nation.
The war costs Britain $50 000. 900 day.
The British budget for the year 1884
amounts to the staggering total Of $22,-
$50, 400 900, and Of this huge amount no
less than So per cent will be raised by
taxation. The basic income tax Il 50
per cent, or 10 shillinss to the pound.
Income tax and s,1rtax together reduce
an income Of 10000 to $14.soo, while it
would take an income Of 100000 to yield
= net income, after tax. Of $4,000.
A. Justics ErankfMter s6 ths United