May 20.
The French newspapers in German controlled Paris appear to be putting out more Peace feelers, and it is to be assumed that because they are under the Nazi thumb they are doing so with German approval. It may, course, amount to nothing but an attempt on the part of Hitler to sound out the market preliminary to another appeal for a "return to reason." But he met with such a frigid reception last year when he attempted the same thing, that he may for once keep his promise not to refer to peace again, That may or may not mean anything, though it is somewhat strange that, after Germany declared only a short while ago that any further peace talks must come from Great Britain, controlled French journals should be doing what they are at present. The argument which is now being adduced is that as neither side has sufficient strength to strike a decisive blow, the United States Government with the great prestige it has achieved by the huge increase in the production of war.materials, could virtually dictate terms ending the war between Great Britain and the Axis.
The only two personalities who can now All the rule of mediator are President Roosevelt and the Pope is the opinion of French observers in Paris who go on to aver that, if hostilities are not ended, France would col-Jaborate fully, though not militarily, with the Axis Powers in reorganizing continental Europe as an economic entity.. It is not likely that this latest trial balloon will be any more Successful than its predecessors. There is indeed. every reason why is should be the case, for if anything is clear at the moment it is that this is no time to be talking of eace but of getting on with the war. It is furthermore unthinkable that President Roosevelt would adopt any course of action which in fact "would permit the continuance of the evil system which has plunged Europe into such terrible distress, and which would be able to do so again directly Hitler and his accomplices thought it would suit their book.
While little has been said about Democr: tic war aims, it is quite plain that the most immediate one is the destruction of the Nazi and Fascist systems, and the re-establish~ ment of the rule of law throughout the world which they have so callously broken. People, who in the course of a generation have seen millions of young men sent to their death to satisfy the inordinate ambitions of wicked men in two great wars, those who have seen the wanton slaughter of women and children with no military excuse whatsoever, have been brought to a realization that they owe it to posterity to make such sacrifices now as will guarantee it from a repetition of the horrors the world is now witnessing. There can be no such guarantee so long as men like Hitler and Mussolini control the destinies of their nations. That is the one plain fact which has to be faced squarely. There is not a reasonable man or woman who Would not wish to lay down arms immediately if by doing so it was possible to attain that degree of security without which this world must recede further and further into the shadows of chaos.
What sort of peace would Europe have the huge German military machine were al Towed to continue in being and threaten from day to day the existence 6f her neigh-hours? What sort of peace could possibly be acceptable which did not right all the cruel wrongs which the Germans have in-fided upon countries whose only fault was that they desired to work out their own destinies in peace? The questions have but to be asked to suggest their own answers, that this war must go on until the aggressor Powers have been defeated and rendered incapable of repeating their predatory adventures. Normally little enough attention would be paid to the comments of the Paris-in Press, but it can do nothing without the approval of its German masters and the conclusion to be drawn is that these new peace feelers have been directly inspired by the Germans, who realize that as the months g0 by their chances of victory have been gradually dwindling. There would not now be any talk of peace if the Germans were certain of ultimate success, and the only reason for it now is that they would like to get out of the mess they are in with as much of the spoils as possible. That cannot be allowed to happen.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.