Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-28
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By Congressman Sohn Phillips

By Congressman John Phillips
There are features of the present
situation in Europe, and by this l
mean both the diplomatic and the
fighting fronts. that are interesting
to explore
Three weeks in England in Sep
tgmber. talking to men who are
helping run the war, and another
three days nearer the fighting
fronts. in France, had given me an
impression OF optimism. The prob
lem was our ability to get materiel
,e the fighting men when and where
they needed it. With this in mind
said as many of you will recall, that
we were feeling out the Axis line TO
find the soft spot" and when we
found il we would hit it with the
manpoWer and the industrial power
Of the United States I even sug-
oeSted that the shooting war could
be over by Christmas. so lar as
GERMANY was concerned.
What I said reflected the feelings
of those of us who were that close
10 the machinery. The news from
the front. in the past few days, does
NOT support such optimism. what
then has happened? We can only
conjecture. The heavy rains nave
slowed us down. They were expect
ed, perhaps not quite so soon. Ccld
weather will follow. The failure TO
capture more quickly nearer ports,
like Havre or Antwerp, must have
some influence. but they were Stlll
held when We were there. What
then is left?
HEAVY DEMANDS
There are two inescapable con-
clusions first. that the demand for
shells. food. all the requirements OF
war. has been greater tran our abil-
ity to supply these things. This Is
demanding and extravagant war.
Take one example: in all previous
wars. we have given the soldier a
rifle to shoot, and to the astcnlSh-
ment of the soldiers OF other armies
in 1918. it is a matter OF history, the
Americans aimed, and hit what they
aimed at. Today, we give the sololef
a sort of military spray gun
Garrand. or a Chicago typewriter
and expect him TO smother the en-
envy with a blanket of lead. Multiply
this by other types OF ordnance ana
You'll get some understanding OF the
demands, in shells, bullets, trucks,
eouipment. and what have you, OF
modern warfare.
It takes everything we can pro-
duce TO keep up with advancing
armies. There can be nc strikes, no
slow downs. no distracting discus
sions OF "reconversion, until thls
one lob is done, and the Washington
bureaus are now beginning to real
ize that.
SHOWS RESULTS
Second, that the lack of definite
foreign policy on the part OF tne
United States is now displaying Its
inevitable results. Men and women
said to me, during the month OF
October, that they were voting 1or
the incumbent President, because
of his foreign policy" l could, and
can now, only ask, what is that Tor
eign policy? They said to me he Is
getting along so well with Stain
and Churchill" I could, and can
now. only ask, what makes you
think he is getting along SO we'll
with these gentlemen, who know
their own minds so clearly, ana
know so definitely what they want!
I rise to ask these questions now
Do you think that Italy should De
split into member states? That is
what England wants. Do you want
the House Of Savoy put back by
force, or did you mean that you
wanted the right Of determination
given to the people? Do you want a
communistic government? Russia
does.
Do YOU want to decide who is to
govern Greece, and keep that gov
ernment in by force, or do you want
the right of determination there!
England wants the King. Russia
wants communism. Was 1t your ldea
that we were to make guns ana
ammunition in the United States TO
be sent to England on lend-lease, 10
be used to shoot down the people
of Greece in the streets OF thelr
cities?
We set up, financed and support
ed a Polish government in exile in
Iondon. This was the government oil
the Polish people; headed by pre-
misr who is a member OF the peas
ant party. These were cur friends.
They were not the friends OF COM
munism. Stain set up a competitive
Government in Lublin. That is a
government of communists, some OF
whom left Poland to support Rus
sia before this war England went
TO that government. The United
States. trying to straddle an issue
moves in the same direction.
There is only one person IN the
United States, under the Constitu-
ton in such a situation, who can
state definitely the foreign policy
of the United States. That person
is the President of the Unitec
States. Such a statement should bt
made. in certain terms, with cour-
age. and on the historic principles
of this nation. 1t should be done
before we lose the friendship ant
respect still left US.
l write this during the Christmas
season; the time of Santa Claus. W.
cannot always be Santa Claus to th'
whole world. The dream will end. 1
would be we'll to start now to set uI
! something more secure and realistic