Evening star., 1943-11-17

tendency OF in David Lawrence.
diyiduals to consult their personal
affairs and leave Washington in
anticipation of demands from their
own businesses. And those officials
who sincerely believe that the New
Deal radicals have been check
mated from using the war for re-
form or socialistic purposes now
are leaving them a clear field for
their" experiment. This is because
many Of the New Dealers have been
waiting for the period Just ahead
to attempt to put into effect their
ideas of production for use" and
state socialism.
With billions of dollars invested
by the Government in plants, it is
natural for the radical to take the
view that the Government should
continue operations and furnish
employment. Businessmen profess
their faith in the Importance of
retaining the free-enterprise sys-
tenn. But unless businessmen are
willing to carry their share of the
load In governmental positions, the
chance OF presenting that free-en-
terprise view will be lost.
Men In Lesser Posts.
One high official said to this cor
respondent: THE theory that only
the top men make the policies is
fallacious. The men in the lesser
posts can make rulings and de-
cisions which day by day result
IN policy which the top man, on
discovering the ruling, finds it diff
cult to amend or reverse. For the
commitment has already been made.
Businessmen who are running away
from Washington on the theory
that the war is about over are doing
harm to their own interests"
The notion that the war is about
to end has already resulted in some
confusion on the administrative
side because the pressure for de-
cisions on the reconversion prob
lem and for the disposal of surplus
property. indicates that war-plant
owners are giving considerable
thought to termination of contracts
and are not coming here primarily
to solicit new contracts or to tool
over to other weapons OF which
there may be more need.
Maybe the war in Europe will be
over some time in 1914, but it Is
more likely to be toward the end Of
next year than the beginning, judg-
Ing by the recent turn of events in
the air war The public evidently
enjoys wishful thinking and has not
noticed that the area in which de-
structlve" raids on German factory
production has been limited by the
Nazi rocket bomb to fighter plane
range from Britain.
Only escorted bombers can make
effective raids, and the escorts cam
not seem to get beyond 500 miles.
Unless there is an invasion of the
Continent and the Allied positions
are moved closer to the heart of
Germany, the war may 60 on into
l945 without military decision.
Serious Moves Ahead.
The possibility Of internal collapse
Is always present. but war plans
cannot be made on that basis. The
year 1s43 mas almost gone by and
yet there were many people who
IN 1912 were saying that by July,
l943, the Allies would reach the
peak Of their production and that
Germany couldn't withstand the
blows that would be directed at her
from the air. Likewise, there has
been talk Of a second front ever
since last winter, but nearly II
months OF 1943 have elapsed and no
real second front has been launched
The American people have not
awakened to the serious moves that
lie ahead. An invasion will be costly
In men and when 1t is launched in
the early months of 1914, many of
those who are leaving Washington
on the supposition that the war is
about over will doubtless wish they
had stayed here.
Much of the confusion after the
World War resulted from the failure
to plan for the transition period.
Many plans are being laid now, but
1t is vital that businessmen prepare
to make the sacrifices and stay In
the management posts that have
been entrusted to them. 1t is vital
that more and not fewer business
men should be in Washington to
help shape policies. For if ever
there is a time when sound business
judgment is needed, it is when the
Government is faced with decisions
on the problems of conversion and
reconversion of war plants.
Reproduction Rishts Reserv.d)