davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-08-24
On the Record
BY Dorothy Thomson

thompson
But Mr.. Bevin answered the questions
thoroughly. without ever referring to
LaSki. If Mr.. Churchill were still Prime
Minister, and, therefore, forced to speak
with more caution than an opposition
leader needs he could have made
Bevin's speech. Mr.. Bevin read it
which is not customary in the House
Of ommons-obviously to emphasize
the deliberateness of what he said His
speech was in effect, rebuke to Laski.
But more Importantly, it was a COM
prehensive declaration of policy, and
as such of highest importance.
The first thing obvious is that Mr..
Bevin, like Mr.. Churchill, has not been
appointed one OF his majesty's first
ministers 'in order to preside over the
liquidation of the British Empire" Mr..
Bevin intends to defend everything
that was in Britain's hands before she
emerged victorious from this war. This
is not traditional Labor party theology
but none of the great powers is con-
tracing in the present world. That is
evident In the case of Russia, and al
though the United States is not colorial-
imperialist, she is extending her lnflu-
ence and power around the seven seas.
X
Hong Kong is economically important
for British trade with China, and with
the United States scheduled to get nu-
merous Pacific bases, any British gov
ernment will try to hang on to what
footholds they have. The economy of
Great Britain, capitalist or socialist,
cannot exist without lourishing cx-
port trade, and whoever, including our
selves, controls all the steppingstones
to China has great trading advantage.
In the areas of imperial interest
specifically Mediterranean, Middle East
and Far East-British policy remains
unchanged, though methods may be
modified. Elsewhere and specifically in
Eastern Europe, the Balkans and Spain
British policy is to restore as much
freedom as possible, under lawful, con-
stitutional and nondespotic govern
ments, not Exchanging one totalitar-
ianism for another"
Whatever social changes may take
place, it is obvious that British common
sense is indestructible.
Evening star., 1945-08-24
Life Principle in War
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot

course: but if the terms of the Charter
are carried out by every one in good
faith and complete harmony the
amount of force required for this pur-
pose need not be large, because it will
be a true police force, preventive
force taking timely action before dam
ger becomes too great.
However, this sort of action is pred
icated on the existence of generally
accepted law, and the truth of the
matter is that we have been thinking
in terms of time interval, modus
vivendi by which we could maintain
the peace by agreement between SOW
ereign states while we gradually de-
veloped true world government from
which, and only from which, could at
last come a worldwide code of laws
that could and would be accepted by
the majority of mankind for their
security.
Now that time interval seems to be
shorter. We are afraid of the forces
we have let loose in the world. We want
to be secure, we are reasonably certain
that our own people will continue to
think like that, but We are not as cer-
tain of every one elSe-and our doubts
are becoming more painful because OF
the terrific implications should they be
translated into reality. So We will TN
questionably begin to press harder and
harder for the extension Of our ideals,
for more and more of the four free
doms In more and more places In the
world.
We want particularly to abolish the
secret hiding places where fear may
lurk; we want to know what Is hap
pening everywhere; we want to be sure
that no one, anywhere, is contriving q
new terror to let loose upon the rest
Of us. In this our Government will in
all its contacts with foreign govern
ments be taking the offensive, seeking
the support Of other governments OF
like mind, seeking to change the views
of governments which for various rea-
sons may not be of like mind.
And the grim, inescapable fact is that
the influence Of any government, OF
any people in the affairs Of this world
is based almost altogether upon power
in the last analysis on armed power
upon it's ability to support its policy
If need be, by force Of arms. This /,
. melancholy reflection, but because w
do not like 1t We must not fail to rec.
ognize that II Ii nevertheless true.
tcopyrisht. 1oz5.)
Evening star., 1945-08-24
The Nursery Centers

The Federal Works Administra-
ton has warned all along that the
end of the war would mean the
end of continued Federal aid for
the nursery centers, established with
Lanham Act funds for the day care
of children of war-working mothers.
Yet the formal announcement of
the end of the Federal aid program,
effective at the end of September,
seems to have caught the District
authorities without any plan for
tapering off maintenance of the
schools, continuing them or closing
them up. That, at least, was indi-
Gated in statement by Superin-
tendent of Schools Haycock, several
days after the FWA announcement,
that study would be made to de-
termine what the need of working
mothers would justify in respect to
continuing the operation of the
centers with municipal funds. Nat
urally, the parents who have bene-
fitted by the facilities of these CEN
ters are deeply concerned.
No one doubts the value of the as
sistance represented by these CEN
ters to mothers whose ability to
work depends on the availability
of care in daytime for their chill
dren. When the demand for work.
ers in war plants was so intense,
the National Government financed
establishment and maintenance of
the centers as a contribution toward
solution Of one of it's many man
power problems. Undoubtedly there
was another objective-the hope
that once the centers were estab-
lished, they would be perpetuated
as socially desirable undertaking
by local communities. Centers were
opened in more than 1900 commu-
mites throughout the country, with
an enrolment of children exceeding
100000. There are forty-eight CEN
ters in the Metropolitan area, in
cluding twenty-three in the District
with population of about TOO
children.
The problem confronting the Dis
trict budget authorities must be
very similar to what other local
communities are facing. 1t has
nothing to do with the benefits of
the centers to working mothers. Yet
the number of working mothers is
so small in relation to the popula-
tion which must support the CEN
ters that it is difficult, once the ele-
ment of essential war work is elimi-
mated, to regard the centers as a
necessary public service. They fall
into the category of luxury when
the service they perform is COM
pared with many other unmet needs
of the community as whole.
Evening star., 1945-08-24

The facts of life have caught up with
us again. We are not pleased.
Take the pressing need for decision
about the size and nature of our post
war armed forces. Military policy, we
know, must go hand in hand with for
eign policy. Your policies and interests
are thus and so. Consequently you
have such and such potential enemies;
their strength is such and such, and
it will take them so long to get ready
to do you an injury. Therefore you
must have so many men, 50 many ships.
such an industrial mobilization pro-
gram.
But no. That's old hat. That's pre-
war thinking. That's preatom thinking.
That's prerocket thinking. You can't
use the words national defense" any
more. You can't dare to think in terms
of "hemispheric defense" even. Defense
if it comes to that, is your finish. Look
what happened to Germany once that
nation was reduced to the defensive.
Look what happened to Japan because
the japanese leaders thought they could
grab half world and then sit tight
and defend it-and they were lot
farther from the sources of power Of
their opponents than we can ever hope
to be from any opponent. in the world
of the future-the world Of rockets and
jet propulsion and atomic power.
Are we, then, to be constantly on the
offensive In our relations with other
states? Yes, in the sense that we must
be constantly at war with war Itself
and with the conditions which make
war possible. In every way, in every
aspect Of our national policy, we must
be eternally vigilant, eternally and
actively seeking out and destroying the
! causes Of war, the planners Of war, the
very seeds from which wars evil weeds
may grow up to choke the good harvests
of the future.
Thus when we consider our military
policy we must consider 1t as q part
of this eternal and utterly essential
overall national policy. First and fore
most, it must contribute to the task Of
keeping another war from ever hap
pening to us and to our neighbors again
II we fail to do that no defense will
avail u.s.
am by no means saying that thu
first consideration of our military policy
must be to make . proper contribution
to the forces Of the United Nations
under the provisions Of the San Fran
cisco Charter. That We must do, o.
Evening star., 1945-08-24

thousands OF prisoners captured in
Manchuria and Korea are being quickly
disarmed and dispatched across the
borders into Siberia, where the Russian
government has said 1t has plenty Of
work in mines to keep them occupied
for the rest Of their lives After the
surrender order was given there was
little II any shooting at the Red Army.
Gen. Macarthur is likely to have q
less easy time. The American troops
are moving In by sea and will be pro-
tected, it Is true, by vast air UNI
brella. But it will take some time
until we land In force on the Japanese
islands. In the meantime 1t is not
excluded that the "hot heads" men,
toned by Emperor Hirohito in his edicts
may give us some trouble.
While the Russians are moving the
surrendered Japanese by the tens of
thousands across the Amur River we
shall have to maintain the 100000 to
1900 900 Japanese soldiers in Japan it.
self amidst their own people, who, in
spite of the Emperor's orders, are seeth-
ing with discomfort and already burn
ing with the idea OF revenge.
The position of Generalissimo Chang
Kai-shek and his American chief of
staff, 1t. Gen. Albert c. Wedemeyer, is
not quite as difficult. The Japanese
commander in chief in South China
has complied with Hirohitos surrender
order, but in the areas in which the
troops of the central government have
not yet appeared the Japs may strike
private bargains with the Chinese Com
munists. In some quarters it is feared
that they may even make common
cause with the Yenan forces.
1t is true that Premier Stain has
pledged himself to keep his hands off
the Yenan-Chungking strife Most
political observers in Washington are
convinced that he will stick to the
pledge. But he has no control over
what happens across the Manchurian
borders and the Chinese Communists
claim that officially they take no orders
from Moscow. Hence they have a free
hand to continue their fight against
Chang and plunge the country into a
civil war which eventually may give
Russia an excuse to intervene on the
pretext that the unsettled conditions
near her borders affect her well-being
and the peace of the world.
Some military observers in Washing
ton begin to fear that, after all, we
may be only at the beginning of our
troubles in the Far East.
Evening star., 1945-08-24

scum booklet tells how "as early as
Lucian," who hourished about 100
A.D., classic ideas were parodied.
In the seventeenth century Scarron
laid irreverent hands on "even
Virgil" But "the ridicule which our
own times have poured upon them"
II. e. all Greek and Latin patterns
of thought-"outstrips anything
previously seen in its cruelty and in
its coarseness."
The object and purpose Of the
ridicule thus described, certainly,
may be worth its cost, yet it would
be idle to deny that the method is
destructive. When the Italian
futurists "revolted" against what
they regarded as "the grip of the
museums" and signalized their re-
volt by mocking Homer, they wished
it to be known that they were trying
to force" their country ito face the
future rather than the past" It
follows that their pictures are "im-
portant documents OF cultural his
tory" even when they have a might
mare quality"
Peace and decent serenity in the
world, then, might mean a gradual
decline Of modern art as a medium
of revolution. The horrors exhibited
in even the most conservative
galleries since 1910 may have been
only symptoms of the same social
ills that brought forth the Second
World War. If those evils now are
corrected, nobler art may arise to
express a nobler era.
Evening star., 1945-08-24
This Changing World
By Constantine Brown

The American Fleet In the Northern
Pacific, under the command of Vice
Admiral John Fletcher, Is reported to
have been ordered to proceed from its
present base to occupy the japanese
islands extending from Hokkaide to
Paramushira, the principal Japanese
naval base in the Kuriles.
The fact that Russian paratroopers
have already landed In Shumushu Is.
land, near the southern tip OF the Kam-
chatka Peninsula, caused q furry in
some quarters here Wednesday. How
ever according to those who are said
to know to full extent the agreements
on Asia tentatively reached at Pots
dam, the Russian landing on Shumushu
had been anticipated and is not re-
garded as breach Of these agreements
Whether this thesis is a camoufage to
cover the disappointment that the Rus
slams have moved ahead in an area
which was intended to belong to the
American zone remains to be seen.
According to those who profess to
know all about the Potsdam discussions
in regard to the Far East, it appears
that the Russians had suggested that
the entire Kurile chain be placed un-
der the American trusteeShip, but it
does not seem clear to them whether
Shumushu, which lies only a short dis
tance from Cape Lopatka, was included
in that agreement.
The other Russian landings in Korea
and in the KWantung Peninsula were
made according to plan," and with the
possible exception of the Shumushu
operation there seems SO far to be no
apparent friction between the u S. S. r..
and her other Allies.
But it appears that because of the
way the agreement regarding the Amer
ican supreme commander was drafted,
Gen. MacArthur's authority will not
extend to the Russian forces in the
Far East. He is supreme commander
for" and not of the Allied forces.
This explains why the japanese, who
have been fully informed of the Allied
arrangements, have opposed the landing
Of American paratroopers in various
places in China to liberate American
prisoners without the consent of the
Russian high command.
In some ways the Soviets are likely
to have fewer headaches than ourselves
in the Far East. They have already
entered the area assigned to them and
occupied by the best Japanese troops
without much trouble. The Japanese
forces surrendered as soon as the Red
Army appeared, and the hundreds of
Evening star., 1945-08-24
BeIuted Awakening

It is interesting and in a sense it
is instructive to read that the Japa-
nese people now are being admon-
ished to reflect seriously on the
grave mistake made in the past of
following government leadership
blindly."
This counsel comes from the news
paper Asahi. leading Tokyo jour-
nal, and the leadership referred to
is that of the military clique which
plunged Japan into ruinous war
Asahi, of course, has not been con-
spicuously out of step with those
who were blindly following the mis-
guided leaders of Japan. When
those leaders appeared to be win
ming the war, Asahi, like other ele-
ments, was perfectly content to fol-
low them, blindly or otherwise, and
it is only since the war has been
lost that the editor of that publica-
ton has discovered that blind 10y
atty and unquestioning obedience
constitute a grave mistake" Never
theless, even though this confession
of error comes late in the day and is
suspect because of it's timing. it is
worthy of attention.
Asahi says that. henceforth, all
japanese should participate in the
affairs of government. "Only in that
way" it adds, "can a change in ma
tional thought be effected and the
japanese nation get out of the pres
ent darkness and despair into a
world of hope and construction"
If this is not mere window dress
ing, but sincere expression from a
repentant spokesman for a beaten
people, it is a hopeful sign for the
future. The Japanese are highly
lterate. They read newspapers and
other publications, and it may be
supposed that their views, like those
of any other people, are Influenced
by the things they read and hear.
Therefore, it seems certain that no
harm can be done. and substantial
good might result, from an intelli-
gent japanese propaganda campaign
to encourage them to think for
themselves and take a hand in the
management of their own affairs.
It Is to be regretted, however, that
Asahi did not discover the error oil
blind allegiance earlier, or that, II
the editor was aware that a mistake
was being made. he did not have
the courage or the opportunity
10 preach the doctrine that his
newspaper is now carrying to the
Evening star., 1945-08-24
Letters to The Star
Former Premier of France Pro-
tests Against Reynaud Charles
To the Editor Of The Star:

FORMER TTem1ef OF france FRO.
tests Against Reynaud CHARGES
70 the Editor Of The Star:
You printed In one of your last issues
an article by Paul Reynaud, stating
again venomous attacks he had already
branded against me in his testimony
before the court in Paris.
Unable to answer In detail to SO lone
an article in simple letter, ask the
North American Newspaper Alliance.
which has syndicated Reynaud,s arti-
cles, to open its column to me, In my
turn, so that can give to American
readers another side of the picture.
I am ready to prove, not only that
the accusations of Reynaud against me
are not true, but also that my accuser
Is the man who bears most RESPONSE
bility in the events of 1910.
The armistice had been asked for by
Gen. Weygand, that Is true. But it
would not have been possible without
the weakness Of the Prime Minister be-
fore the military chiefs and his sub
mission to despicable intimate entour-
age which was favoring capitulation.
For today, must only express again
my strong protest against false accusa-
tions, for which directly cabled my
Indignation to Reynaud.
Proof Of the unfairness of his attacks
comes fortunately from his very article.
I need no other testimony than his.
He admits that my proposal had not
the armistice for its aim, but was, on
the contrary, a counterproposal opposed
to the demand of Gen. Weygand for an
armistice.
He admits also that the reasons I
gave then for such proposal were
clear and correct in their form
But he pretends that my statement
was hypocritical and that other and
secret aims were hidden behind it.
1t is what I am protesting strongly
against. Why did Reynaud distort my
attitude in attributing to me without
any proof backthoughts that I never
had?
affirm again that, in view of the
unequal clash of wills which was oppos-
ing Reynaud and Weygand, I only tried,
in good faith, to find a way out of the
dead end in which Reynauds weakness
had put us.
still believe that my proposal, which
was only informative and was agreed
upon by the British cabinet, although
Reynaud tries vainly to deny it today,
was alone capable of saving our situa-
ton.
But Reynaud. who was thinking only
Of his own political interest, took it as
a pretext for resigning and for having
Marshal Petain called to power, when
he could not ignore that such a move
had the very significance of the imme-
diate armistice. 1t is undisputable that,
at any rate, my proposal, even If not
good in his opinion, was less grave than
the unbelievable issue he gave to the
discussion.
I am, then, entitled to protest against
unjust attacks from a man who Is try
ing today to usurp an unjustifed glory,
when the memory Of such a past should
inspire more modesty within him.
CAMILLE CHAUTEMPS.
Evening star., 1945-08-24

NietzSche the individualist has
taken a terrible licking in Hitler's
Germany. Perhaps the time is at
hand when he will be remembered
for nothing except that he said that
Victor Hugo was "the lighthouse on
the sea of nonsense"
Evening star., 1945-08-24

His countrymen think of Thomas
Jefferson as an unadulterated lib
eral-until they recall that he wrote
to Liable Arnond in 1889: "The
people are not qualified to legislate.
With us, therefore, they only choose
the legislators"
Evening star., 1945-08-24
That White Horse Again!

That White Horse Again!
To the Editor of The Star:
I cannot believe that Admiral Halsey
was serious when he expressed a wish
to ride Hirohito's horse down the streets
of Tokyo.
1t is assumed that our high-ranking
officers Of the Army and Navy have
more important business to engage their
attention now than acts which would
reflect no credit upon the high morale
and fine principles for which We re-
spect and revere them.
NELL LEWIS STAFFORD.
Evening star., 1945-08-24
Disagrees With Ministers

To the Editor OF The Star:
1t is reported in the press that "a
religious and educational leaders have
protested to President Truman that the
atom bomb is IAN atrocity of new mag
nitude," adding. I'VE cannot believe that
it was even essential to the defeat of
Japan. 1t did its work thoroughly and
the heart of each city (Hiroshima and
NagasakD was atomized and the dead
were too numerous to count"
So, what?
Doubtless. we could have defeated
Japan without the use of the atom
bomb, but are the worthy gentlemen of
the cloth and the mortar board hats
prepared to say at what cost in good
American lives? Military and other ex-
perts say it would have cost us at least
100000 American lives and another
250, 900 British would have had to die had
the Nip war not ended as quickly as
it did as a result of the use of the
atomic bomb.
The clerics and scholars, using little
plain arithmetic, can readily understand
that our use of the new weapon was
mercy to Japan itself. In all probable
1ty 100000 Japs were obliterated by the
two atom bombs dropped, but that was
net saving Of 12,100,O0O Jap lives, for
thus far for every Yank who died, 10
Japs have gone to their honorable an
cestors. At this ratio Of 10-for-1, the
1,250,0O0 American and British lives
saved through the abrupt end of the
war represent 12,500,00O Japs who will
not now have to die for Emperor and
the homeland.
1t would be well for the gentlemen
who carp against our use of the atom
bomb to stick to their own callings and
leave military affairs to those charged
with the responsibility of winning the
war in the shortest length of time at
the least cost of life. Mel. SMITH.
Evening star., 1945-08-24

Winston Churchill. it seems, agrees
with Chesterfield in the opinion that
the House of Lords is a hospital for
incurableS.
Evening star., 1945-08-24
Nor Any Other Time!

From the Terrs Hauts Tribune.
Although some doubt is still expressed
about Hitler,s death nobody expects him
to run for ONCE for Germany In the
near future.
Evening star., 1945-08-24
Suggests Commemoration Rites

TO the Editor Of The Star:
just as President Truman summoned
the whole American people to thanks
giving for victory on Sunday last,
wish he now would call the Nation to
a universal service of commemoration
for the heroic dead who gave their lives
that that victory might be won. Per-
haps Armistice Day, November II, would
be an appropriate occasion. The point
OF my suggestion is that we owe it to
the fallen to give formal acknowledge
ment of their sacrifice. r. w. j.
Evening star., 1945-08-24

There are lots of things worse
than being a sinner. For example:
Being hypocrite.
Evening star., 1945-08-24
Wants Safe Driving Crusade

Wants Sale Driving Crusade
To the Editor of The Star:
With the lifting of gasoline ration
ing, there is need to have rigid enforce
ment Of our traffic laws. I therefore
suggest that The Star, which always
has worked for the best interests Of
our fair city and Its people, sponsor .
campaign to compel obedience to safe
driving regulations. e. r. HAAS.