The Evening Star MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1940. DANGER FOR AMERICA.

Evening Star, Issue 23694, 30 September 1940, Page 4

The Evening Star MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1940. DANGER FOR AMERICA.

No one who understands the American temperament will be surprised to learn from Washington that the answer of the United States to the Berlm-Ilome-Tokio alliance may take the form of increased aid to Great Britain. It appears that the individuals who are leading Germany and Italy to destruction, ignoramuses in their conception of world affairs and world feeling, are making precisely the same mistake in their estimation of American fortitude and determination as they did in the case of the British Empire. In the course of time the American character may have developed along certain lines in a superficially different manner from that of the British, a fact possibly due to spaciousness of environment, geographical position, and, ,at one time, a very liberal immigration policy. But when it-comes to what the Americans themselves would call a “ showdown ” it will be found that the British stock, which gave the country its language and the deep-rooted traditions of freedom and democracy, will prevail against any attempt by foreign aggressors to upset a way of Jiving which has proved both workable and satisfying, and which, at its very worst, has provided nothing in the nature of a “ casus belli.” In short, the United States, like Great Britain, will never yield to intimidation tactics. In an important speech during the week-end the Assistant Secretary for State (Mr Sumner Welles) reasserted the intention of his country “to render all material support and assistance in the form of supplies and munitions to Great Britain and the British dominions in what we hope will be their successful defence against armed aggression.” Mr Welles did not hesitate to utter the warning that the United States was facing its gravest dangers in history, and must continue to prepare for all eventualities. There is ample evidence in other reports of American activities that Congress is more than ever in the mood to support the national leaders, and there has ncvci*' been any ’doubt about the temper of the people as a whole, which is rising in unison with that of the British.

Perils and hardships may lie ahead for a country that takes such a strong stand against powerful bullying nations in alliance, but it cannot be doubted for one moment that the combination of resources that the British Empire and the United States, together with smaller but most useful allies in each hemisphere, can throw into an extended conflict will ultimately carry the day and establish a world peace based on justice and law which, as Mr Welles points out, is the only basis on which united security can be fully guaranteed. A nation able to spare from its naval forces fifty destroyers, described by their new owners as being better than British destroyers of the same age, is not lacking in formidable sea (power. The transfer of these useful vessels, the first flotilla of which has arrived in European waters, was probably one of the factors that hastened the strengthening of the already existent understanding between the world’s most flagrant aggressor nations. Inasmuch as the move clearly added to the fear in the hearts of Hitler and Mussolini, stimulating them to fresh endeavours in the search for new allies, it is rich in significance. History has shown that America has been in every war involving control of the seas, and has enjoyed isolation only as long as Great Britain, friendly to the Americas, has ruled the waves. An American writer, in an article entitled ‘ America’s Hour of Destiny,’ has this to say: “ The period of our splendid isolation has ended. We now face the prospect of living alone in a hemisphere of weak States amid a world of gigantic conquering military States. Within the orbit of our influence and interests, from Alaska to the Netherlands Indies

and from Canada to Brazil, lie lands whose natural wealth is surpassed only by their small populations and feeble defences. Overseas in Europe and Asia are strong military peoples, living on crowded lands, governed by conquerors and armed to the teeth. This, then, is the hour of our destiny', when it will be decided how much of our inheritance we are able and willing to defend.”