Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1940. AMERICA AND NAZISM.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1940. AMERICA AND NAZISM.

A WARNING given in plain terms by the United States that it will not countenance interference by Italy or Germany witli British or French possessions in the Western Hemisphere is on a number of grounds significant and important. >o, no, is the news that the United States for the first time in its history is'io have a Coalition Government. Both developments beai witness to a growing appreciation of the critical seriousness; o ' the war situation as it affects the American nation and imp , incidentally, that the worthlessness of the a « sl ?' a “ ces 1 J. te 2, o'iven bv Hitler that he has no territorial or political ambitions hi the Western Hemisphere is perceived and appreciated clearly in the United States, as well as in the other American republics with which it is linked in friendly association.

Following hard on the publication of an interview with the Fuehrer in which he denounced violently’ as lies charges t ia he had aggressive designs on the Americas, conies news of the exposure in Uruguay of an elaborately organised Nazi plot aiming at the military occupation of that republic Amongst the facts of the situation which a committee of the Uruguayan Chamber of Deputies has found to be proved is that oi: participation bv the German Legation in a journalistic campaign in favour of Nazi infiltration. This infiltration is shown- to have made considerable headway, not least notably in the extension throughout the country of the political Hitler i onth movement.

’ All this is merely typical of much that has been brought to lio'ht from time to time in various parts of the American continents, including the United States and Canada. It is demonstrated the Nazis are actively plotting and intriguing to o’ain in these continents a foothold and base for extendec aao'ressioii. In invoking and upholding the Monroe Doctrine the United States is called upon to take account, not only ot any interference the Nazi and Fascist dictatorships may attempt with British or French 'possessions in the Western Hemisphere, but with definite though underhand attacks by the totalitarian States upon areas of purely American ownership.

An appreciation in, the United States of the facts of the position of course accounts for the decision of its Government to give all possible material assistance to the Allies and now to concentrate that assistance on Britain as, with the Empire, the sole champion in arms of democratic rights and liberties. The logic of circumstances which has forced the United States to tlfis extent to co-operate in warlike action against the totalitarian dictatorships may well constrain her before long to go still further. No one can doubt for a moment that Nazi and Fascist aggression, overt or concealed, will be repelled and defeated only by an exercise of superior force.

fflfe&gßr . ... The future maintenance of the Monroe Doctrine is just as definitely dependent on the defeat of Nazism and its jackal ally as is the continued security oE Britain and the Emfpire and the redemption from enslavement of the countries Germany has meantime subjugated in Europe. That manifest truth has or should have its hopeful bearing on the war now in progress as well as on the prospects of establishing a better world order in. days to come, ft must be expected increasingly to influence American policy that anything short of the complete and decisive victory of Britain in the present struggle would at once expose the United States to an imminent and deadly menace.

A great deal has been said in recent times, and no doubt has said quite sincerely, about American sympathy with Britain. The people of the United States have an even weightier reason than sympathy can supply, however, for giving all the material help they can to Britain, and if need he for taking their stand with Britain in the war. That reason is simply that their most essential interests are identified absolutely with those of Britain and that it is in association and co-operation with the British Empire that their best, prospect appears of maintaining the Monroe Doctrine as a guarantee ol the continued security of the American republics.