Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1941. A GREAT COMMON CAUSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 March 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1941. A GREAT COMMON CAUSE

against the background of the passage of the Lend and Lease Bill, the speech by President Roosevelt which was reported yesterday was a splendid rallying call, not only to the American people, but to lovers of freedom throughout the world. In the opening passages of an utterance destined to live in history, Air Roosevelt, it is true, declared that: — The world has been told that we, as a united nation, realise the danger which confronts us and that to meet that danger our democracy has gone into action. The President also made it very clear, however, that he was affirming the determination of the people of the United States, not only to act for their own security, but to make common sacrifice in the great common cause of those “who would rather die as free men than live as slaves.’’ He proclaimed American kinship with those people in Britain and in other countries who are fighting in the front line of civilisation and declared that the United States would not only give “unqualified and immediate aid” to Britain and other countries now withstanding aggression, but must extend its aid and co-operation info the days beyond the war. Our country (he said) is going to be what our people have proclaimed it must be —the arsenal of democracy. Our country is going to play its full part, and when the dictatorships disintegrate, and pray God that will be sooner than any of us now dares hope, then our country must continue to play its great part in the period of world reconstruction. We believe that the rallying cry of the dictatorships and their boasting about a master race will prove to be pure stuff and nonsense. There never has been, is not now, and never will be, any race of people fit to serve as masters over their fellow-men. . . . There is promise here, not only of the mighty flow of material aid which will so greatly assist Britain and her allies and other nations now fighting for freedom to win their way to victory, but of the continuing association of free nations which is needed to re-establish liberty, peace and security on firm foundations. Even from the material standpoint, the dedication of the American nation to a full-powered effort in aid of the democracies is an event of tremendous importance and significance. The President’s assurance that from now on American aid to the democracies will be increased, and yet again increased, till total victory is won is as heartening and encouraging to our own nation and its allies as it will be terrifying to the dictatorships. Not long ago, an American correspondent in Berlin, Air Joseph C. Harsch, wrote: — One of the severest blows that could be dealt to the morale of the average German would be an American contribution to England divorced from profits. Should that happen he would begin to believe that America is really sincere in its devotion to the English cause and that would probably shake him. It may be hoped that all the resources of lying Nazi propaganda and of terrorism within the Reich will fail to hide from the average German the fact that the United States is committed to a total effort in aid of Britain and other democracies, not only divorced absolutely from al] thought of .profit, but quickened and made imperative by an awakened perception of the danger that menaces democracy throughout the world. That the enemy forces will be progressively weakened in morale as well as outclassed in material resources in the conditions in which the war is now developing is not in doubt, President Roosevelt, in his speech, justly emphasised the vast difference between the obedience that can be enforce! in a dictatorship and the loyalty to the common cause that is given freely and spontaneously in a democracy. The way to victory may be hard and may yet. entail grim sacrifices, but our democracies, if their awakening was slow, are awakening in a strength and vigour of purpose of which Hitler and his gang have no conception. The spirit that will win the war is made evident not only in the promise of unqualified and immediate American aid, not only in the valiant deeds and achievements of our fighting forces on land and sea and in the air, but in the heroic resolution of the democratic rank and file. How high that, spirit runs in the Motherland of our race has been shown in many days and nights of grim ordeal and is being shown at the moment in the response to the unprecedented demands on man and woman power now being made by the British Minister of Labour, Air Ernest Bevin. The only note of criticism sounded in regard to these demands, we are told, is in statements that the Alinister is not going fast or far enough. IMPRESSMENT OF VEHICLES JN time of war military needs are paramount and this applies certainly not less to the impressment of vehicles than to the impressment, of men. It does not follow, however, that the methods adopted are of no importance. Indignation expressed, at the meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday, in regard to the conditions by which the Government, recently took over or sought to take over trucks and other motor vehicles, evidently is shared by some other sections of the community. Many of the detailed facts remain to be cleared up, but there appeal's to be room for an immediate and comprehensive review of the methods pursued on this occasion, with a view to the adoption of better methods. It goes without saying that vehicles needed for military purposes must be .relinquished by their owners, but the process should be based upon a methodical examination of military and industrial needs and should be carried out on practical lines and in such a way as to cause no more inconvenience and dislocation of useful activities than are unavoidable. On what has been made known of the recent proceedings, one or (wo suggestions seem to be justified. It should surely be possible, for example, to have vehicles inspected in the areas in which they are employed instead of requiring that they should be sent to a distant inspection centre, there, perhaps, to be rejected and sent back again. Then again, while military needs must receive first consideration, all possible protection should be given to essential industry where transport equipment is concerned. Under orderly methods there should be no great difficulty in reconciling and satisfying both military and industrial needs.