UNREST OF NAZISM

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1939, Page 9

UNREST OF NAZISM

REACTIONS IN AMERICA. “The war in Europe has brought home to the American people the fact that it is rapidly becoming their war,” says the Melbourne “Herald’s” special correspondent. Although the fall of the Damocletian sword seemed to be inevitable, Great Britain’s declaration of war, brought a shock to the American people. They had been hoping against hope that some miracle might still dissuade Hitler from his cruel plans for the destruction of Poland, and thus enable Britain and France to retrain. from putting into effect the only argument the Fuehrer seems tc understand: Force, to the limit. For, iu spite of the formal proclamation of neutrality by President Roosevelt, there is a rising conviction that America, sooner or later, will have to take her stand beside the other Eng-lish-speaking democracies if their system of government is to survive. No intelligent American believes any more, that the 300 miles of the Atlantic Ocean and the 500 miles of the Pacific constitute zones of isolation, and safety from war in Europe or in the Orient. The enemies of America are already in her midst. Why, else, immediately upon announcement of Great Britain’s declaration, were the military and police forces of the United' States summoned to surround the munition and aircraft factories, the navy yards, and public buildings in all the large cities with armed guards.? These protective activities assuredly were not directed against British, French or Polish citizens resident in America. The latest disclosures before the Congressional committee investigating un-American activities had revealed the enemies within the gates. On the very afternoon of Britain’s declaration, Fritz Kuhn, head of the German-American Bund, addressing f crowd of 200 members of the order, asserted that “Hitler can lick the whole world,” and demanded the defeat and ousting of President, Roosevelt, whom he called “Mr Roosevelt.” The platform from which he spoke was decorated with the swastika as well as the American flag, and the “Heil, Hitler,” resounded! .from the audience. Several of the speakers wore Nazi storm trooper uniforms. This meeting took place in a Summer camp of the Nazi organisation, 25 miles from Philadelphia. There have been many similar manifestations by the Nazis in America during the past two years, but the timing of this demonstration aroused' bitter indignation among all good citizens. It now develops that Federal G-men, disguised as perman sympathisers attended the meeting and took secret snapshots with their concealed candid cameras. These pictures showed al least seven officers of the regula: American Army and the National Militia, attired in full uniform, heiling Hitler, saluting the swastika, and singing Nazi songs. “INVASION” OF U.S. One of the officers, it is reported, is a brigadier-general in the National Guard and a teacher in a Philadelphia high school. Workers at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the Government Arsenal in the same city also attended this Bund glorification meeting. To suggestions that they might have been present merely as curiosityseekers, a Department of Justice official replies: “How, then, did they manage to. gain admission withou' special cards? Even reporters and press photographers were excluded. One thing, more than any other that may impel the United States to join the fight for civilisation and the smashing of Hitlers power, is this organised drive, plainly directed from Berlin, against a neutral country. Is it too much to say that Hitler’s troops have actually invaded America as they have Poland?

They even wear’ uniforms. If they have naturally refrained from bloodshed, are not their secret propaganda and open and impudent oratorical attacks on the United States Government equally acts of hostility? Australian readers may ask themselves in wonderment how long this state of affairs is going to be permited? Not much longer, it may confidently be said. The war in Europe has brought home to the American people the fact that it is rapidly becoming their war. Two surveys of the American press, after Britain’s declaration and after the dastardly sinking of the Athenia, with the loss of American lives, show nothing but red-hot condemnation of Hitler and his piratical crew.

Not a single editorial voice has been raised in even qualified' support or approval of Germany’s reckless course. This is in striking contrast to the situation at. the beginning of the Great War in 1914, wfien American opinion as expressed by the newspapers, was far from unanimous in favouring the Allied cause. The question of most immediate concern to the British and French peoples is the lifting of the embargo on shipments of arms, ammunition and implements of war to belligerents, which President Roosevelt was compelled by the law, sorely agaipst his wishes, to impose.

As these words are written, Mr Roosevelt announces that he will call Congress in special session at an early date to repeal this embargo. The logical reason he gives for his action is the essential unneutrality of the embargo, and the danger that it may drag America into the war. This is the reason he is emphasising for publication, and it, is a perfectly sound one. For neutral nations have always sold their goods to all belligerents alike who were able to pay. But there is absolutely no doubt as to where President Roosevelt’s sympathies lie. He made this plain in his Chicago speech in 1937, when ho said an international “quarantine of aggressor and treaty-breaking nations might be necessary for the world’s peace.

Later lie publicly condemned Hitler’s heartless crusade against the Jews in Germany and Austria. He recalled the United States Ambassador from Berlin, and has just shown his intention of not replacing him with another by appointing Mr AV ilson. who lias resigned his ambassadorship. to a position in the State Department. ROOSEVELT SPEAKS. In his. radio speech to the country, following the British declaration, Mi Roosevelt, did not hesitate to judge the issue and puncture Germany’s claim that she has merely been defending herself against Polish hostilities when he used the words: “The invasion of Poland by Germany.” The moment President Roosevelt proclaimed the embargo, shipments

of military aeroplanes to Great Britain and France had to cease. The three major manufacturers in California had been working night and day to complete and deliver at Los Angeles Harbour the remaining aircraft of a large series of orders. The Lockheed factory had just “got under the wire” by flying twinengined bombers to Canada. By finishing a number of planes last month the North American Aircraft Company was able to place on board ships bound for England 90 per cent, of an order for combat planes. Notwithstanding the embargo, these factories are continuing to work overtime on British and French orders, in the hope that the neutrality law will be radically amended. This is the hope of the majority of the American people. It is to be remembered, however, that 90 per cent, of materials essential for the waging of war are outside the statutory embargo. These commodities, including raw materials of great value to the European democracies, are subject to embargo only by the President’s order. . f They are the very materials oi which Germany is most in need, and for which she is trying, 'without much success, to find satisfactory substitutes. It is probable that if the embargo is repealed, the “cash and carry” provision, which expired b: limitation last May, will be re-enacted. It would require all foreign purchases of war supplies to pay cash in advance and take title thereto am carry away the in their own vessels. American ships would be prohibited from venturing into wai zones. ~ _ Thus Great Britain and France would be deprived of the assistance of the American merchant marine, and would have to use their own vessels, which might otherwise be used at transports or auxiliary crui|>ei|s. But public sentiment, while in favour of lifting the embargo and thus aiding the demorcracies, is opposed to letting American ships run the risk of being sunk, since it, was the German submarine attacks that brought the United States into the Great Mai. How to help Great Britain and France without, putting America into the war is this nation’s immediate problem. It may bo said that at the moment public opinion is firmly against sending American soldiers across the sea. However, to a questionnaire sent out by the Institute of Public Opinion before the British declaration and the sinking of the Athenia, asking, “If Britain ami France go to war with Germany, do you think the United . will 1)0 dl’UWll ill?” 75 POT COllt. sb e lies were in the affirmative.

German irightfuluess abroad am Nazi activities at home are likely tc increase this percentage. American: are slow to fight, but “beware of the fury of the patient man.”