CLARIFICATION OF WAR AIMS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 244, 16 October 1942, Page 2

CLARIFICATION OF WAR AIMS

PURPOSE OF CONTROVERSIAL EDITORIAL. CALL TO UNITY .AND UNDERSTANDING.

P.A. Cable,

. NEW YORK, Oct. 15.

"Life believes that Hitierite Germany is the enerny of mankind, therefore Life has done everything within its power to military pov/er, and the maximum mobilisation of American military power, and the maxi mum unity oi policy and purpose between all the peoples fighting Japan and Germany." This statement was made by Henry Luce, publisher of Life, in an interview with members of the British Dominions press. "The editors of Life are amazed that their editorial caused misunderstanding in Britain," he added. "Speaking for the editors, I am deeply sorry that this misunderstanding oceurred. The I'ault is partly ours for not having said what we meant as clearly as we should, and partly others who chose to read into the editorial things we did not say. "We rneant that war aims beyond the total destruction of the Axis should be made more plain Furthermore, we believed, and still believe, that one reason why the war aims are not more clearly stated is that there is not enough agreement between the British and American peoples and Governments on this subject. The editorial which caused misunderstanding was intended as a plea to the British people to help clarify the positive aims of freedom and world peace for which we are all fighting, "One specific misunderstanding can speedily be cleared up. We failed to stress, in speaking of the British Empire, that we know quite well that to a large extent the Empire is a Commonwealth of free peoples. We do not advocate breaking up the Commonwealth, but we do advocate the end of worldwide imperialism — British, American, French or any other. The great majority of Americans believe that peace must be based on the utmost co-operation with the people of the British Commonwealth. In that faitn Life has written in the past and will continue to write."

continuing aggressive operations. and yesterday they improved their positions for the second successive day.