BRITISH PLANNING OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 14, 12 October 1942, Page 5

BRITISH PLANNING OF WAR

American Magazine’s Complaint STRATEGIC PURPOSE QUESTIONED

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October 11, 10.5 p.m.)

NEW YORK, October 10.

Americans may disagree among themselves about wllat they are fighting for, but they are sure they are not fighting to hold the British Empire together, declared the editors of “Life” magazine in an open letter to the people of Britain. “If your strategists are planning!, the war to hold the Empire together, sooner or later they will find themselves strategizing alone,” says the magazine, “Life” claims that it is speaking for 134,000,000 United States citizens. “A second front might not be so important in a- war to hold the Empire, but in a war to assure victory for the United Nations it seems dreadfully urgent,” the magazine adds. “Here is one concrete concession we demand as partners in battle. Join us, together with Russia and the other Allies’, in fighting the war by whatever strategy is best for all. You can decide what to do about the Empire after the war, but if you cling to the Empire at the expense of the United Nations you will lose the war because you will lose America.”

Declaring that the United Nations must fight for something bigger than England and America, “Life” adds: “It is no use pretending that America will go all out in such a war unless it becomes clear that the war is a war to establish certain principles of freedom. We realize that England has a difficult problem in India, but in the light of what she is doing there now, how can England expect us to talk of principles or look our soldiers in the eye? If you want to keep us at your side you will find our side extends to Africa and Asia.”

In an explanation of the open letter, its author, -Mr. Russell Davenport, has said : “I had no intention of implying that America might make a separate peace. I am saying that the American people will not wage an enthusiastic -war while Britain, carries on the apparent strategy of holding her Empire together. Americans are unhappy. We want to fight for freedom, not for the British Empire.” The letter is stated to have disquieted and perturbed both British and American officials, and it is understood that the publisher, of “Life,” Mr. Henry Luce, is being asked to give similar space for a British reply. It has been recently indicated that in the opinion of sopie observers American war strategy demanded that the “fate of England -be staked on the table” in a -common effort for victory, and that England, from the cold military standpoint, is America’s advanced base.