Evening star., 1947-05-31
War Strengthened u. S. Security


lished May 27 is a striking example of the re-
markable conclusions that can be reached by
irrational prejudices working on imaginary his
tory 1t probably is impossible to do anything
effective to straighten out Mr.. Stricklands
prejudces, but perhaps word or two with re-
gard to his imaginary history might be ap-
propriate.
Mr.. Strickland praises Mr. Lindbergh for his
advocacy of policy of non-intervention in
Europe" and then states: Had his advice been
taken, this country now would be relatively
more powerful" Mr.. Strickland does not define
what he means by intervention in Europe or
elsewhere The facts are that the United
States did not intervene with military force in
Europe or elsewhere during the early years of
World War II. AS every one knows, the United
States was forced into the war by Japan's at
tack on our fleet at Pearl Harbor on December
7, 194l. Even then, we did not Immediately
declare war on Germany but waited with pecu-
liar punctilio until Germany declared war on
u.s. Thus the policy of formal non-interven-
tion in Europe failed to keep us out of war
either in Europe or in the Pacific.
1t is possible that Mr.. Strickland means to
rely on the point that the Lend-Lease Act of
February, 1941, was an intervention in Europe"
although he does not make any clear statement
on this point. If this be the correct interpreta-
ton of his position, it seems obvious that his
statement as to the attitude of 'the articulate
left-wingers and professional Iberals-after
Germany's 1941 attack on Russia, of course
is wholly erroneous.
At the time of the enactment of the Lend
Lease Act relations between Germany and Rus
sia were outwardly peaceful, and these two
powerful states were cooperating in accord
ance with the infamous agreement made just
before Germany's attack on Poland in 1889, the
agreement which gave Germany the green
light" for that attack. 1t is complete perver-
sion of the facts to represent that the Lend
Lease Act of 1941 or other instances of govern
mental action on the part of the United States
in the early years of the war were taken for the
benefit of Russia, although they ultimately
operated for Russias benefit after Russia had
been forced into the war by Germany's attack
in June, 1941.
The underlying notion that seems to actuate
Mr.. Strickland seems to be that if the United
States had remained wholly indifferent to the
greatest war In history, We never would have
been involved in 1t. But this argument rests on
a premise which did not exist and could not
have existed How could the United States be
Indifferent to the outcome of the war in Eu
rope? The belief that in this case the contest
was of such a character that the United States
could remain Indifferent, either psychologically
or politically, is too extravagant to be main
tanned.
There are many absurdities in Mr.. Strick-
lands short letter, but mention only one other
namely, the strange notion that the United
States would have been relatively more power
ful' if it had not become involved in the actual
fighting in World War II. Power depends
largely on prestige, and If the United States
had taken no active part in the war its prestige
certainly would have been much less and, in
deed, might have been on par with that of
India, which is great and populous country
with important natural resources but which
lacks weight in international affairs because of
the absence of national unity and conscious
ness of its national interests in world affairs
two factors which Mr.. Strickland apparently
would like to see established as characteristics
of the people of the United States.
But even in a material sense it seems obvious
that the United States would have been very
much weaker at the present time for purposes
of international bargaining, if the industrial
and military developments in our country in
the course of World War II had not taken place
The three greatest inventions in military tech
nique during the period of that war were de-
veloped in our country under the pressure of
wartime conditions, and at enormous expense
T refer of course, firstly, to the atom bomb;
secondly, to radar; and, thirdly, to the proxi-
nifty fuse 1t is hardly likely that any of these
three would have been developed had the
United States remained in lethargic state of
precarious peace during the period of World
War II. AS things now stand, United States
is probably safe from any attack for some years
to come, on account of the current recognition,
in all countries of the world, of the enormous
military potential and the willingness to fight in
defense of national interests which exist in our
country. This potential physical strength,
coupled with the newly-born willingness to ac-
cept some of the responsibilities Of world lead
ership-a willingness which would have been
stifed in its infancy If we had managed to keep
out of the war by policy of appeasement and
crafty dealings really the guarantee of our
present world position.
CHARLES S. COLLIER.
Wolves Blamed for Distress
To the Editor of The Star: