U.S. WAR EFFORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 90, 17 April 1941, Page 5

U.S. WAR EFFORT.

LABOUR A PROBLEM.

TACKLING THE STRIKERS.

(0.C.) PALMERSTON X., this day.

An interesting visitor to Palmerston North this week was Mr. J. G. O'Brien, a son of the late Mr. Morgan O'Brien. As a young man he served in the Great War and then took up his residence in the United States where he is now a j prominent banker in Louisiana, being | vice-president and trust officer of the 'Commercial National Bank of Streveport.

i In a short talk with a "Times" representative. Mx-. O'Brien had many interesting things to say about the United States war effort. He had seen a steady stream of planes flying north en route to Britain, and on his way to New Zealand had passed through America's huge naval squadrons on manoeuvres in Hawaiian waters. He also visited the main airbase at Hawaii where Uncle Sam has a great air armada ready for scrvice in the Pacific.

'"Our problem is labour,*' he said. "If we can keep labour in line and stop unnecessary strikes in the war industries, there is no doubt that the American promise to give unlimited help to Great Britain will be carried out."

Mr. Roosevelt's programme was a real war effort in every sense of the word, Mr. O'Brien added. The eteel and other heavy industries were going at top speed night and day, and American bombers were being flown to the Atlantic coast in large numbers, bearing the British emblem—a detail which wa® not noticeable until the speeding up of the! aid-to-Britain plan. Nazi Influence. I The U.S.A. had always had industrial! strikes, and these disturbances were nowj being given greater prominence because <Jf their interference with the war effort. At the same time the dislocation of industry appeared to have assumed greater proportions than usual, partly

no doubt because of the operation of Nazi influences in America to take advantage of the industrial situation to have legitimate grievances rectified.

In a huge country with a polyglot j population it was unavoidable that there i should be some "fifth column" activity, in a crisis such as the present -war, but! he was confident that Mr. Roosevelt and. Congress would be strong enough to handle both the sabotage question and the strike problem so as to enable the aid-to-Britain scheme to proceed smoothly.

They realised that the strikes wouldj not be beaten by turning out the guards j and forcing the men back to work at the point of the gun, but that strong! and tactful handling would be required.

The labour man was often led to make decisions which caused tiouble for liim|<self and others, and there were always I men ready to throw a monkey-wrench | into the works. These factors had to [be tackled by the Administration,, and | Mr. O'Brien felt confident that they i could do it satisfactorily.

American opinion on the war and the consequent aid to Britain had not been easy to consolidate. In the 13 Southern States, for example, the population was, largely Anglo-Saxon, and would probably; declare war to-morrow if put to the test. In Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, how-! ever, the situation was entirelv different.

Collapse of France.

I The point of contention was the fear among a large number of people that America would give so much to Britain that her own defence position would be weakened. The American people, having always in mind the possibility of trouble in the Pacific, were strongly inclined to that viewpoint up to the middle of last year, but the collapse of France had brought the possibilities of war closer to home, and had caused a marked change of heart and opinion.

j Many people remembered the last war, when Britain had borrowed largely from [America and bad not paid the money I back. They were not going to help i Britain to repeat the process. "But you jdo not hear people talking that way [nowadays," Mr. O'Brien added. "When jthe going became rough and it looked: .as if the British Empire might be upi against it. talk of that sort died away! Ivery quickly. J

"The American people feel convinced that Hitler has no chance of successfully invading the British Isles. They would like to see him give it a fro because they feel that he would get a good hiding."

"What about Lindbergh?" Mr. O'Brien was asked as a parting question. "Well," he replied, "Lindbergh just doesn't count in our country. Because he flew the Atlantic as a young man he poses as an authority on aviation. We say, why not ask 'Wrong-Way' Corrigan's opinion? He also flew the Atlantic!"