Imperial Valley press., 1945-01-29
DRUMS BEAT LOUDER FOR
FORCED MILITARY TRAINING


cally louder for compulsory military
training. More and more is being heard
in favor of this idea which was thrown
out to the people some time ago with the
apparent thought that, given time, popu-
lar opinion might go along favorably
under war duress, whereas it might
cool perceptibly after the war is over.
There are only two arguments in be-
half of the military training program
which under particular circumstances,
might hold water. And oddly enough,
these arguments are seldom brought to
light.
World politics and the stimulants of
war still are in existence. Wars are caused
by conflicting national ambitions, econ
omic pressures, or lusts for power. Even
before this war ends, it is apparent that
these forces will continue in operation
for ever and ever, unless they are curb
ed and controlled by some civilized means
such as a Dumbarton Oaks plan, league
of nations, or some other initial step
toward international civilization. True,
the beginnings will be slow and tottering
as we start the long road toward ultimate
success.
1nlS klUutI plan HUN Hilleil We
can grow through the years, can fail or
succeed. Certainly, this country wants
the plan to be successful and doesn't
wish to be pushed into a plan which might
not be acceptable.
That's where the military training pro-
gram might come in. The United States
will come from this war as the most pow
erful nation on earth. 1t is the banker
nation of the world. It's merchant fleet
will be the biggest in the world. 1t Is the
most productive, industrially, in the
world.
With these powerful economic clubs, it
should be able to deal most effectively
at the peace table, threatening the hot
test kind of world wide competition II
satisfactory peace is not achieved. Just
one more club or power might be con-
sidered as needed for negotiation pur-
poses. That is a powerful military atti-
tude, and such an attitude can we'll be
illustrated if we launch forth avowedly
with compulsory military training pro-
gram.
That is one argument in behalf of the
proposal that we might examine.
The other is this:
Either we are going to have Dumbart-
on Oaks plan of one kind or another, or
else we definitely will have war.
If we don't have the permanent peace
and international amity program, then,
since we will have another war, we might
as we'll get ready for it.
This does not mean that compulsory
military training will avert war. 1t won't.
Europe has had it and knows that pre-
paredness merely aided in the waging
of war, but never averted the inevitable.
The sum and substance of the question
is that either we must make permanent
peace plan as the earned fruit of this war,
or else we had better start preparing for
the next big conflict. From the practical
angle, there would appear little justifi-
cation for launching forth into training
until we know how the peace talks are
coming along Surely it will not be nee
essary for the United States to put on
military training "show" just in order
to sit down intelligently at the peace
table, when so many formidable powers
are already in the hands Of our econo-
mists and diplomats.
If, eventually, things do not go to suit
us then we might revive the question ser
iously, not as a means toward permanent
peace but as a means toward fighting
other wars which certainly will come
about if we don't take civilized methods
of destroying them before they are born.
hit DIR WAY