1941-05-07 — Page 23

.

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 7, 1941.

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

THE REASON WHY

There are many people who, with all the will in the world demanding a British victory in this war, still ask what good it did for Yugoslavia to offer challenge to German might. The answer may perhaps be detected in a letter addressed to the "New York Times" by the Yugoslavian Minister to Washington, M. Constan- tin Fotich, who begins by pointing out that the Yugoslavs could have "bargained for their free- dom with unscrupulous aggressors."

They might have pre- served for a time, at least, a semblance of indepen- dent existence if they had | been prepared to "cooper ate' on the degrading, terms that Hitler offered. Why did they choose to. resist, and what good did their resistance do? less than two weeks of fighting their army was forced to capitulate; their leading cities

were des-

In

troyed; thousands of men, and of women and chil- dren too, were killed or maimed; the rest will be treated worse by the Germans than if they had not resisted. How can we say that their resistance was worth while?

GOVERNMENT RICE MONOPOLY.»

Page

Asufficient quantity of MILK daily is necessary

for the

maintenance health & energy

Now PERHAPS WE

CAN FILL OUR BELLIES UP AGAIN!

DI-VESTED INTERESTS

Washington Opinion

and ad-

Official temperature has risen in Washington from the low point reached when the German Army drive so quickly overwhelmed the Yugoslavs and Greece, vanced to the Egyptian border while the German Navy sent thousands more tons of shipping to the bottom of the ocean.

That is the question that disheartened people

It rose despite the announce- ment of the in Yugoslavia itself, in

Soviet-Japanese Turkey, even in Hong

treaty, and the greatest air raid ever carried out against London. ask themselves. The reasons for Kong

this partial re- One answer, as Mr. covery are several. Fotitch's letter makes clear, is that this is a strongly opposing the Germans at Since the British forces are still decision that a liberty- the edge of Egypt, the fear that loving people does not Suez would be gone by May was make on any mere cold-displaced by hope. Officials, con- blooded calculation. Their ulting with their military experts, choice is immediate and were braced by strong assertions instinctive. They identify that even if several such disasters liberty with life. They

occur in the Middle East they will prefer to fight for it even have consumed time und materials

indispensable against impossible odds:

to the Nazis and rather than accept an victory in the

have contributed nothing to that Atlantic which is abject

slavery tamely. essential to winning the war.

Any other choice is "men-

tally and spiritually impossible."

But there is another

'been in vain.

women

Over

importance Of Morale

By

Arthur

Krock

government more resolute, more willing to accept the res- |ponsibilities of leadership and

grim decision. lease-lend policy

When the was adopted by Congress, these respon- sibilities were made inevitable. the only alternative being u re- versal of that policy to purely

veloped until the government is nearing a point where decisions will have to be made. reversal have been coming more Short of war," the pledge of the strongly since the Germans over- campaign, has been abandoned as a phrase. But it is still acting as

ran Libya. The dual victory theory # brake on policy because the is held by British military ex- Administration is not certain whe-perts, some Germans and a great ther it would dare to take off the brake. Its disposition has been to

many Americans. It is based on us possible and pretend there is ald from this country, British sea- defer facing that decision as long the thesis that (1) with needed

the hard domestic defence. Demands for this

no future by the simple process of refusing to admit plans for it.

power can prevent German vic- tory until overwhelming British Thus, though every detall of air superiority over Germany is American naval escortage of sup-achieved; (2) that through this air ply ships has been worked out, the President dismissed

superiority German Industry `can

every

they

question on the subject and his then be shattered, and the war will responsible Congressional spokes- be over. Unlike politicians, these men continue to assert never hear the subject mentioned military experts do not guarantee in conferences at the White House. that American belligerency will Again, though the decision for all- out aid meant a complete commit-

not be required—in addition to to ment to the cause of German de- peak industrial production feat, the official attitude still is prove the theory. But they are that the objective can and must certain it can be attained on a formula of re-

be proved unless servations: no naval

arms should

bring escorts, no the German fighting men, etc.

about an unexpected debacle in 1941.

the

Some Events Discounted

Into this atmosphere the Pre- sident launched statements that the public is unaware of gravity of the international situa- tion, but that he trusts cracker-

forums official barrel debates,

and the like to produce

The advocates of this theory full awareness, gence of the people. It is not like-Japanese pact and because he believes in the intelli-accordingly discount the Soviet- the effect of ly, however, that this realisation the rapid conquest of Yugoslavia. will come so long as the govern- While the Yugoslavs crumbled ment refrains from a clear, can- much more quickly. than surveys did statement of the continues to imply that wars can theorists say enough time was lost facts and had led Washington to expect, the be won by half-measures. to Hitler to be somewhat service- able to the British and enough Serb enmity was engendered to threaten the essential. : German

Perhaps the new hopes are no answer too. The sacrifice more justified than were the fears of the Yugoslavs has not they displaced. But a matter of Men and the most vital importance depends

whether the in part on the world

Washington mind is hopeful or were inspired by the mere despairing, and that is why these spectacle of the Yugoslav registers of temperature should be defiance a defiance that set down as they occur. was heartening and

The matter of vital importance heroic in proportion to its is the administration of the policy very hopelessness. The of all-out aid to Great Britain. world learned that the This has been successfully, de- willingness of men and women to sacrifice their memory of Yugoslavia's cities, their homes, life heroic defiance will stir itself, for freedom from men's souls and steel tyranny was not dead. their courage. It is be The Yugoslav decision, as cause men have been will Mr. Fotitch points out, ing to fight against helped us if only to gain tyranny and oppression time, it disorganised and degrading acquies Hitler's schedule and his cence, even when their sources of supply. But fight was hopeless, that long after these import liberty and honour have ant material results have not perished from the

BA PANG been forgotten, the earth.

Serious View

Public opinion cannot be ex-supply of aluminium from the pected to view the international mines in the Dinarlic Alps.. sident does. If the government puts situation so gravely as the Pre-

As for the Moscow pact, Major curbs on some economic groups Gen. John H. Russell, U.S.M.C.. and not on others. It is difficult retired, writing in the "San Diego to make people believe that their Union," say that the Japanese, ob- safety is in peril when their gov serving the Battle of the Atlantic, ernment attempts to keep com- have discovered modity prices low by flat while action, as previously, but engage- that not fleet. argest factor of commodity costs, decided the fate of supply lanes. encouraging Increases in the ments between small naval units which is wages.

From Singapore, he says, the operation of this strategy could A New Eirmness? sever Japan's life-lines, and the Germans have demonstrated to the But now that Washington has Japanese that this is true. There regained some of its poise, the fore, he concludes, Japan will not events and necessities of the inter-engage in any national situation may find the adventure,

great southward

CT to Fotot ya si makt

DAIRY

FARM

MILK

of

is milk in its most

beneficial form

NORONG

It's Fresh from the Farm. It's still Fresh when you get it.

Pasteurised.

• Certified T. B. Free. Every bottle individual. ly sealed.

THESE FACTS MAKE

DAIRY FARM MILK

WHAT TY 13

THE FINEST & SAFEST IN HONG KONG