Evening star., 1944-05-22
Writer Believes Peace
Hinges on Economics

Hinges on Economics
Declares Killings Will Go on
Without Postwar Orsanization
By Dapid Laurence
Somewhere behind the scenes in Lon
don and Washington they're discussing
what shall be done when Germany col-
lapses- whether 1t Is next month, next
year, or the year afterward. Armies
must be surrendered, weapons must be
given up. but what Is to be done about
the populations that suddenly viii md
themselves without any government3
What will be the best means Of preserv-
ing order and who shall do the JOB
Britain, America, Russia or an Allied
police forcea
These are the more immediate ques-
tions but in the background ID the
larger problem Of what the postwar or
ganization Of the world shall be.
The American people seem to be
bit bewildered by the vague pledges and
promises that "this time" the mistakes"
that happened "last time" will not be
repeated. This Is probably the biggest
illusion and alibi of our day. Some Of
the same persons who opposed the
League Of Nations are now finding all
the faults they can in that instrument
or blaming this or that personality Of
1918 and 1920, Republican and Demo-
cratic, when the real truth is that the
crisis came is years or more after
World War / ended.
Germany, 1t is contended, for IN
stance, was disarmed in 1918, but 1t is
argued that her general staff remained
to plan second World War. This is
a smoke screen argument which covers
up the terrible negligence of the British
and French governments, dominated,
as they were, by political parties that
deliberately allowed the British and
French armament to lag while Hitler
built his up from small nucleus Of
professional soldiers.
Germany was militarily weak before
1933-she was no menace between 1920
and 1888. The rest of the world had
more resources than Germany but
Britain and France took no steps to
match Hitler's armament or to check
his rise. Even as late as 1896, when
Hitler boldly marched into the Rhine
land, he could easily have been fore
stalled. But while France and Russia
protested, the British Foreign ONCE
quibbled and delayed and finally ac-
quiesced in Hitler's act.
What is most needed Is a postmortem
on British and French lassitude between
1888 and 1889. That was the fateful
period and 1t might also be asked what
support American public opinion gave
in that same interval whenever the
British and French inquired If the
United States would ever make good
on her moral pledge, implied In the
Kellogg BRAND treaties to aid the VIC
Tins Of aggression.
Today, all this 193s-1s3o period of
indecision and negligence is being
CLOSED over by misrepresenting what
happened in 1919 and 1870 and by
claiming the peace treaty or the ar
mistice wasn't made effective. Like
wise, there Is an apparent effort to
substitute for an international organi-
cation OF sovereign nations, in which al
shall pledge contribution of force to
keep the peace, another system-alli-
ances OF q military nature between
Britain, Russia, China and the United
States.
Gov. Dewey favors a British -Ameri-
can alliance and President Roosevelt
favors a quadruple force to dominate
the world organization. Both plans are
built on quicksands. For the American
people, the British people and other
peoples are not going to pay out heavy
taxes forever to maintain huge arma-
ments. The sooner some statesman
comes forward with plan to remove
the basic economic conditions that
breed wars, some plan to make costly
ornaments less necessary and some
plan IN which all sovereign nations will
join whole-heartedly instead of an
other balance OF power plan, the sooner
Will the soldiers and sailors who are
making the sacrifices in this war be
assured that their efforts will not have
been in vain.
Full Employment Principle.
The idea of promoting full employ.
ment everywhere is a useful principle
IN approaching the problem. For the
question OF war is largely at bottom an
economic question both internally ano
externally. So long as nationwide poy.
erty exists, there will be opportunities
for dictatorship and tyranny. Where
higher standards of living and economic
opportunity are introduced the chances
for peace are better.
Too many people are saying that wars
are inevitable and we might as well
maintain huge armies and navies con-
tinuously. It's philosophy of despair
Had it prevailed in medicine and science
the world would never have made prog
ress. War is disease that can be cured
But it first needs honest doctors, men
OF character who will not mislead their
countrymen on the diagnosis and who
will put the public interest above political
ambition. A union of peoples is prac-
tical idea. A union of a few nations
merely invites a rival alliance. The
way to peace is long and tortuous but
1t can be shortened If statesmen are hon.
est with themselves and with their