1941-06-25 — Page 39

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 25, 1941.

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

TO MEET Á GERMAN THREAT

President Roosevelt] made it clear on Friday that Germany's attempt at intimidation by what appears to have been the deliberately ordered sink- ing of the "Robin Moor" will not cause the U.S. Government to reverse its present position and for- bid American merchant ships to enter "hostile" waters. The question is of enormous immediate im- portance now that the war has moved to the Near East and the vital factor in the defence of that area has become the provision of equipment for a British army formidable enough in numbers but lacking adequate supplies of 'planes, guns and am- munition. American mer- chant ships are now at liberty, under domestic legislation, to enter the Red Sea and to deliver war materials at Egyp- tian ports; for on April 11, following the British capture of the port of Massawa and the over- powering of all but scat- tered Italian resistance in East Africa, the President revoked his own earlier proclamation

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น

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not? for be like him who did

the injury."

• MARCUS AURELIUS

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Bertrand

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THE

Russel! The War PARY FAR

defining Mr. Bertrand Russell (Lord of conciliation. In this I was in

"New York Times" in which

hej my countrymen.

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On the other hand, the fate of more parti- this region as a "combat Russell) has written a letter to the agreement with the majority of subject populations,

has I went further cularly in Poland,

been a area" within the meaning states his reasons for supporting than the majority in believing that good deal worse than had seem- ined probable. There is reason to of the Neutrality Act. It the war. The following are ex- war should, at this moment

history, be avoided, however think that, if the conquered is his exclusive power and tracts from the letter:---

nations are not liberated by force In the years that preceded the great the provocation. his duty, under the Neu- outbreak of the present war I ex- I changed later through the of arms, they will be compelled trality Act, both to define pected that I should be opposed to influence of the same events that for a long time to come to endure

it, as I was to the war of 1914-18. changed Chamberlain, Lord Loth- appalling suffering "combat areas" and to various circumstances, however, ian, Lord Halifax, and most of able tyranny.

view the previous advocates of peace. modify, extend or revoke have led me to alter my

This alteration is not as to any In view of what has happened Preserving Democracy such provisions as he may fundamental principle.

since, it would seem that it might have been better for the world il Third: I feared that if once originally establish, at his I have never been one of those Germany had been opposed at an there was war, the issue, who-

who condemn all war. I have own discretion and in ac-wean so much with people who earlier stage; but I still think that ever nominally victorious, the arguments for the policy of would be military dictatorship. It cordance with his Own were complete pacifists, opposed to

conciliation were very strong. was obvious that, for the duration best judgment of the con-all war, that it was natural that! These arguments, as I saw them, of the war, every belligerent Gov-

should have been assumed to be

ernment would nced dictatorial ditions currently prevail- one of them. Though I belonged First: Germany had been treat- powers, and it was far from cer- ing. It would be intoler- to the Peace Pledge Union in the ed with abominable injustice attain that, if the previously demo--

years immediately preceding the

Versailles and afterwards; what cratic nations won, they would able, therefore, to expect present war, I joined it on the ex- the Nazis demanded was no more re-establish democracy when the US. meekly to sub-plicit understanding that my ob- than Germany had a right to claim peace had been concluded.

jections to the war that was com-

As to this though the British mit to a terroristic act in ing were not of principle but of equality with other nations, and

union under the German flag of Government has now very wide! waters which have never expediency.

all populations that so desired. powers, it is using them, except In 1915 I wrote an article on been included in the com- "The Ethics of War," in which the future it would have been a tion.

Whatever fears might be felt for In India, with admirable discre- bat zone.

specified four justifiable kinds of

dreadful thing to plunge Europe There came a moment some Mr.

Roosevelt hinted wars, among which I included as

examples the American War into war in order to perpetuate a will say one moment, some

other when it became evident. wrong. of of Independence and strongly at the use

(on

This first argument collapsed that Germany would destroy the the part

of the.. North) American warships to

War. the Civil

My

with Hitler's occupation of the independence of the democracies view keep the seas open to was, in general, that modern wars non-German parts of Czechoslo- one by one if they did not com- merchant shipping. This are seldom justified, because both Vakia. Until then, the German bine in armed defence. From that Government had done nothing moment the only hope for demo- the propaganda and interference would be in the tradition with freedom that are necessary that could rightly be called for- cracy was war.

eign, conquest. The world had victory produce an

In this argument a vital factor THESE FACTS MAKE! of America's historic pol-phere in which a good peace is been told, in the most emphatic is the military strength of Ger-

terms. possible, that Hitler's as many. icy of insistence upon unlikely...

A nation which is securði freedom of the seas.

pirations would be satisfied as may reasonably pursue a concilia- thought the!

· It arguments used by the Allies in soon as all Germans were in the tory polley but it is another matter cannot successfully be the Great War were largely un- Reich. One might be sceptical of if the price of conciliation is

as bad these assurances, but in the ab- likely to be ultimate subjugation argued that Germany has sound: Germany was not

as was said, a war fought in al- sence of evidence to the contrary The defeat of France showed established an effective fiance with Tsarist Russia could they had to be tentatively accept what is possible, and must have blockade anywhere on the not bo genuinely a war for demo ed. When Bohemia was occupied increased Hitler's ambitions as

cracy, and imperialist motives (as a new situation arose, E seven seas in the accepted the Peace showed) were by no Second: It was expected by fears. meaning of international means confined to the German all the experts that a new great law. The situation

side. Moreover, at any time after war, if it occurred, would be far is the Battle of the Marne reasonable more horrible than the last more like the activities of negotiated peace would have been So far the war, dreadful as the Barbary pirates in

tes possible:: On these grounds I op- it is, has not been as bad as was posed that war both in advance feared. This may cease to be the Mediterranean a cen- and during its progress. As to true at any moment if a large this, my opinion is unchanged. scale attempt at Invasion is made tury ago.

perhaps the horror has been only postponed to the moment that The United States used Before Munich

best Zaulted Hillor's plans. its Navy to dispose of that relatively minor menace In the incomparably greater danger which threatens to-day it is tended destination not prognostications, the reason be scarcely dare to hope that the clearly to democratic in- only on the road to Cape ing apparently, that defence world after the war will be a good terest

to

use every avail- Town but in the northern against aerial attacks has made world, if we win, but if we lose very great "Progress during the it will be hell, probably for a long able warship to make cer- reaches of the Atlantic. last fow:-years,

tima to come.

In particular, ?

atmos-

much as it increased his enemies'

Before the war began it might have seemed preposterous to sup- pose that Hitler could aim at world domination. Now it seems probable that she does so, and his success is sumicichtly possible to call for the utmost vigour in re- sistance.

Down, to and including the time But in the case of aerial attacks grave dangers to democracy and

of Munich, I supported the policy.

I know that the war, even if it ends in victory, involves. I very

on Great Britain it stems clear freedom. that he has done his utmost; and I deplore the short-sighted illi- that essential: war this has been charmbusly less bérality of British policy in India,

dicted in the most authoritative munt of such a man as Nehru. I

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