Detroit evening times., 1945-09-04
WESTBROOK
PECLER
Fair
Enough


~ initials on the fence inter-
twined with those of President
Harry Truman inside a valen-
tine heart than what does he do |,
but propose the forgivery OF all
those war debts.
/ find that l have rocked
through the crisis, however, be-
cause, after all, none of them
ever did expect to pay off, any
way, and most of us didn't exc
pect them to, and any one who
did deserves a place on Elliott
Roosevelt's sucker list
There is nothing they could
use for money even if they
wanted 10 pay and eHf-iabef-
movement and our manufac-
turers would never permit them
TO dump on our markets the
equiva ent in manufactured
goods.
True, we could soak up a
quantity Of Scotch by way of
return lend-lease but our native
corn-squeezing interests would
have something 10 say about
that, considering that they are
heavy taxpayers and employers,
and by comparison with the
total. we could use only a
negligible amount of chutncX.
bloaters and tweedy things
from Britain, caviar from Russia
and champagne, camembert and
lady-pans from France.
AS all realistic Americans an
ticlpated, we pick up the check
but anyway. apparently, we saw
of here and begin paying our
way out but don't continue
working one day or a half day
a week Indefinitely for unknown
and unseen opposite numbers
residing. in the late Mr.. Roose- 4
Velt's pears ape d phrase,
everywhere in the world"
WHEN bank lends big
money TO an industry which
is having trouble whether from
mismanagement or from rea-
sons beyond its control, the
lender assumes some control
over the firms affairs.
our government also does
this when it comes 10 the help
OF domestic industries.
1t examines pay rolls and
/ limits the salaries Of executives.
demands the curtailmcnt Of
wasteful activities and, in gem
eraL reserves A veto for The
/ protection Of the Taxpayers
Who, after all, provide the
money
II We were 10 take this posi-
ton IN relation 10 the debtor
/ countries, we would undertake
TO manage the whole world.
These other nations wouldn't
/ let us do that even II we
wanted 10 and while 1t is true
that in dealings between big
nations and little ones, the big
lenders insist on picking preSl-
dents, dictators and cabinets
favorable 10 them, which WSt
isn't possible here
WITH regard 10 those Off
w shore bases OF ours created
under lcnd-lcaSe some of US
may think, impetuously. that
we ought to insist on the ces-
sion TO US. along with their in
/ habitantS, OF British and French
/ islands where these works are
but what | say IS that they are
less trouble TO US in their pres-
ent ownership and management.
II We got them. We would,
have 10 make citiZe ana
voters of some Of the most tenn
permental, lndolent. inefficient
We k end revolutionaries on
earth and by the thousands they
would swarm ashore 10 settle
/ in New York and drink. gamble
and rob and vote for LaGuar-
dia and Marcantonio and more
and more de luxe doleS OF the
Yankee dollar.
In case of war. considering
recent developments. We should
/ be able to eliminate them easily
as enemy bases.
The present condition and the
future of peoples abroad are
1 described AS d perate and
warnings are uttered that un-
less We provide the margin.
anarchy and relationships will
cnSue.
That may be so and We may
say that we are providing A
great gift in burning the book
and assuming into our own tax
bill for many years TO come the
debts we would forgive.
But we might have some noisy
troubles of our own unless our
own people and particularly the
ex-service people get decent
homes and a chance TO buy
automobiles, clothing and food.
IN THE last 25 years. we have
L persuaded ourselves that
there is some sort of guilt in
our prosperity and comfort and
I 4. a 4 L.. l.,