ATTITUDE OF AMERICA

Evening Star, Issue 23377, 21 September 1939, Page 16

ATTITUDE OF AMERICA

THINGS SHE WOULD HOT TOLERATE _ AUSTRALIAN CLERGYMEN'S VIEWS

Under the heading “ Will America Fight?” the Rev. Jleginald Kirby writes as follows in the Melbourne ‘Argus’;—“President Roosevelt, in a momentous speech, addressed not only to the people of his own great country, but to the people of the world, has touched upon the subject which lies under the surface in the minds of all thoughtful people. It is a subject that may well prove to be the deciding issue in the war. Whatever may bo the relative advantages possessed by either side in this titanic struggle, the position of America is of incalculable importance. Will America fight? The President says that he desires to keep his country out of the conflict. He affirms that America does not want to be involved in a European conflict. He told his countrymen that as far as he is able he will see to it that such entanglement does not take place. The possibility was being freely discussed when I was in America a few weeks ago. No one attempted to hide his opinions. They were all quite open in their assertion that they did not want to enter a war. 1 had many opportunities of discussing with different types the attitude that would be theirs if a major conflict arose. It was not my first visit to the country, consequently the friends I had were quite prepared to speak openly. Most of them took the attitude that there would be far greater ease to-day in bringing American opinion to the side of the Allies than there was in the last war. During the intervening years there has been a measure of racial unity. America is fast becoming the land of one people. It is moulding a race. This fact is of tremendous importance, as a glance at the migratory movements will show.

In 1800 the population of the United States was about five millions._ A hundred years later it was 75 millions. Today it is about 130 millions. How has this rapid growth been attained? The question is fundamental in a discussion of the possibility of America entering the war. Look at the phases of development. From 1790 to 1840 the growth was due to excess of births over deaths. The Americans of those days were largely of British stock, with British traditions, British love of independence and freedom. The years 1840 to 1880 witnessed the influx of large numbers of migrants, mostly from Scandinavian and German stock. These made fine settlers, good citizens, but a different colour was given to the racial type. Even stronger was the influen'e of those migrants who entered between the years 1880 and 1914. They were Mediterraneans and MidEuropeans. They proved very difficult to assimilate. They brought with them their own ideas of life and government. The old American traditions meant nothing to them. They retained their racial group characteristics after they had settled in the land of their adoption. Moreover, they were attracted to the cities and began to exert an influence greater than their actual numbers. •• SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY.” All this had a profound bearing upon the attitude of America in the early stages of the last war. America did not want to be involved, neither did she intend to be if she could avoid it. The attitude of Wilson was as strong as, if not stronger than, that of Roosevelt. Yet she entered. She had borne more provocation from Germany than she would from any 1 other Power in the world. Her attitude was influenced by large groups of _ German-speaking people, by anti-British forces ufc work within the heart of the nation. But the limits of restraint were reached and passed. One of the causes was the decision reached by the German military command on January 9, 1917, at the Chateau of Pless, in a council presided over by the German Emperor in person. • From February- 1 the U-boats began to sink at sight. On April 2 President Wilson declared “ neutrality is no longer .feasible. . . . the world roust be made safe for democracy.” . , That last word strikes _ the second cause that brought America into the war. the threat to democracy. There is over the States an intense love for freedom. I found that evidenced whereever I went. It is more than an ideal, it is a religion. The one thing that makes all people of this vast nation conscious of their solidarity is love for freedom. If once the people of America get the impression that this freedom is being menaced it will be but a matter of time before they enter the war. They will fight if they feel their liberty is being' endangered. Less than eight weeks ago T was in Washington. There 110,000 people engaged in Government service in the vast capital. Here is the nerve-centre of American administration. I had supper with three men, all of whom were Government servants. Oddly enough, one was in the State Department, which corresponds to our Foreign Office. He was of German extraction, reticent about the affairs in which he was engaged. Another wag in the revenue service, while a third was in the Law Department. A representative mixture, surelv We talked till nearly midnight, and our talk ranged over many fields. The one thing which united these men was a determination to preserve those lilierties for which their ancestors had struggled. America will fight avhen it is borne in noon the soul of her people that her dearlv won liberlv is seriouslv ttveatened. Rosnonsible elements in the nation would not stnyd by and see Nazism rise in their midst. That is one of the most powerful factor* winch, in inv judgment, will ultimately turn American idealism into active participation on the side of the Allies. NAZI PRESSURE. Germany comnrited a grave error of judgment in 1917 when the U-boat terror was let loose upon the world. She will commit the same error, but in another form, when she attempts to exercise too strong an influence upon American thought by propaganda and secret organisations. Already there have been clashes between Nazi organisations and the public. There are deep-seated fears that some of the movements afoot in America to-day threaten her freedom. If there is any sign that such are being fostered from the outside the_ great heart of the American people will not hesitate to choose the sword. They will be forced to fight to preserve their own liberties when once it comes home to them that Ibis struggle being foimht out in Europe is no dynastic conflict, but rather the clash of forces which, ever since man became politically conscious, have been striving for the masterjr.

Whatever the President may say now, the intolerance and bitter bigotry of tho totalitarian States will force the people of America to choose. I have no doubt how they will choose. They are a more homogeneous people now than in 1914. Their sentiments totoward the Old Country—strengthened by the recent visit of Their Majesties —were never more friendly. Their instinct of self-preservation must force them to realise their obligation to the yorlfl of to-day. and jto-morrowa