Evening star., 1944-10-31
Letters to The Star
Sees Our Domestic Conditions
As Really Controlling

To the Editor Of The Star:
In your editorial Of October a..
Senator Balls Decision" you make the
very cosent, but widely overlooked, point
that: "The United States, no matter
how admirable our intentions, will not
be able to influence the course Of world
affairs after the war II the domestic
conditions which prevailed before Pearl
Harbor are to be revived when HOSTILE
Ties end
That domestic issues and conditions
are Of the utmost Importance In de-
termining the strength Of q nation
relative to foreign affairs is strilkingly
illustrated by events in the present
titantic struggle In Europe. Predomi-
nantly, Hitler found his opportunity in
the internal dissension and disunity
that prevailed In many of the various
countries, small and large, that Ger
many so ruthlessly overran. Every
Balkan country, with the exception of
Czechoslovakia, was torn with internal
dissensions. Internal strife fatally has
weakened Poland for hundreds of years
and repeatedly has opened the way for
encroachment on her territory by
neighboring ambitious and unscrupulous
countries.
Internal Conditions In France.
The Magipot Line and "the strongest
army In the world" certainly essential
parts OF Frances foreign policy, proved
but a feeble defense against German
attack in view OF the exceedingly bitter
hostility between "sit-down- strikers"
and ultraconseryatiye employing inter-
ests. And there can be no come. back"
In French influence In international
affairs until this sad internal situation
in that country has been cured.
Again, We ha&e the amazing con-
trast between the pitiful showing made
by Russia in the First World War and
In its subsequent peace settlements when
that country was little more than a
jarring congeries of mutually hostile
classes and political subdivisions, and
the astonishing strength displayed by
a unified Russia in the present great
struggle and the very great influence
that country is bound to exert In coming
postwar settlements.
There is no certainty that present
internal unity In Russia. nor In the
United States or any other country,
will endure unless means are found
to make 1t endure, And with lack Of
unity at home comes impotence in
affairs abroad.
Domestic Issues Control.
Yes, domestic issues are OF very great
importance in the coming election-not
only in themselves, but rs profoundly
conditioning the influence that we shall
exert for years to come in international
affairs after the close of the present
war. Mr.. Dewey makes one of his
strongest arguments for his election In
calling attention to the policy of the
present administration, one might al
most say present dynasty" in setting
class against class. Such a policy is
fundamentally destructive Of our infiu-
ence abroad. as 1t is likewise destructive
Of our peace and prosperity at home.
JOHN G. THOMPSON.
Common Root of Collectivism
To the Editor Of The Star:
August T. Welven, writing in these
columns, has hit upon very important
notion in pointing out the common
socialist roots of Naziism, Communism
and Fascism. All these attempt to di-
rect the efforts of society toward q
single goal, and refuse to recognize any
areas in which individual desires are
supreme. All three are collectivist and
totalitarian in operation Hitler him.
self declared in l94l: "Basically ma
tional socialism and Marxism are the
same" All of these systems have in
duced men to surrender liberty, personal
independence and political freedom for
planned security" This security turned
out to be the security of the barracks,
and men were subject to compulsions
and the arbitrary determinations of the
planners as to what the status, income
and future Of every one should be- Only
the ethical standards of the controllers
could be supreme and true" OF course,
parliaments and courts were too slow
and too diverse in their standards of
absolute values to produce any effective
agreement on a plan.
We see these concepts spreading in
France, and even in England, where
men, confused and frightened by the
chaos of war, are willing to surrender
liberty for the central planning of their
lives. Everywhere, Communists are
more strongly organized than groups Of
liberals and individualists, and are able
to spread their doctrines. In the United
States we see the Communists rallyi1g
for fourth term for "our leader" whose
administration has gone far to break
down the liberal tradition and extend
government planning. More important
is the top council Of leftists In the
PAC. who attempt to dragoon free
American workingmen into q one-way
plebiscite for the leader. The PAC is
not composed of workers primarily, but
of leftist writers, artists, economists, ex-
New Deal office holders, and others on
the planning fringe. As H. L. Mencken
used to say: They enjoy the solaces of
MARKHAM communion without ever hav-
ing submitted to baptism" Let Ameri-
cans ponder the concept in PAC PAM
phlets, that government must decide: