The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1941 A Momentous Declaration

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21957, 8 May 1941, Page 4

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1941 A Momentous Declaration

DURING the past few months many messages of cheer have come from the United States, but none could be more welcome than the latest declaration of the Secretary of War, Mr H. L. Stimson. Because it is so specific and timely it carries even greater weight than any made before. Mr Stimson shows that there is an immediate problem to be met by the American people. The future of the United States, the preservation of all the ideals for which the American people have ever struggled, depend upon a British victory over Hitler. If Britain were defeated Hitler would become the master of one hemisphere and it would not be long then before he set about completion of his conquest by turning to the West.

The United States has already demonstrated its practical sympathy with Britain and her Allies in the Lease and Lend Act. Under that Act Britain is to be provided with the means of overthrowing Hitler and Mussolini, but these vital supplies have to be carried across the Atlantic where a crucial battle is now being waged. It is inevitable that some success should be won by the Germans in their endeavour to prevent American supplies from reaching Britain. Mr Stimson asks: “Shall we now flinch and permit these munitions to be sunk in the Atlantic? Our entire history does not show a precedent for such a supposition. The President has said that we must not allow the steps already taken to become ineffective.”

Britain needs the supplies America can send, but the commitments of the Royal Navy are so extensive that it cannot provide complete protection for Atlantic shipping. This is the situation which Mr Stimson has faced so courageously from the United States standpoint and so hearteningly from the British. His view is that the United States Navy should undertake full convoy duty regardless of what the consequences might be. Acceptance of convoy responsibilities would be for practical purposes a declaration of war against Germany. It is a grave decision for the United States Government to make, but what risks there are will almost certainly be taken, for the United States Government knows that Hitler has already made his menacing preliminary moves against the American Continent.