America's Concern Mr, Henry Stimson, formerly U, S. Secretary. of Siate, has written an interesting letter to the "New York Times" on what he considers should be the policy of the United States in the event of aggression by Fascist Powers against Great Britain and France. He envisages the combination of Germany, Ttaly and Japan such aggression, and contends that this could only be defeated by the common action of the Uhree large democracies including the United States, He makes the point that if any one of them remained Isolated in.the event of an attack upon the others there would be grave chances of disaster befalling them, and. that therefore, it is only by cooperation that the democracies can hope to survive. His views are supported by the Journal publishing his etter, which shows that such a\ policy would not require alliances for the United States abroad, but consultation with other law-abiding. countries on tactics of self-defence. There cannot be the slightest doubt that the mobilization of the resources of these Powers for the reservation of peace would be the most formidable organization that could possibly be! devised. It is not necessary that the United States should be asked to enter into any offend sive or defensive alliance, Indeed sentiment In the United States would be definitely against any such proposal, but when the world at large earns that aggression against the democracies will, in the future be very much America's business a potent factor for peace will have been called Into being. There Is no country in the world which would embark on war without some real hope of emerging victorious. Against such a combination the Fascist States would have very Tittle chance indeed, for not only would the combined military and naval strengths practic ally ensure vielory in the field and on the seas, but the enormous economic pressure that they' would be able to exert would prove just as formidable, That will, however. necessitate some positive action on the part of the United States, Tt cannot be expected that Washington will make a definite statement as to her titude in the event of a European war breaking out, for it has always been reluctant to mak such commitments, but the knowledge the cannot regard the threat to European demoera~ cles with unconcern may still prove to be the Important factor operating towards the malntenance of peace and the removal of much of the present tension.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.