Colonel C, A. Lindbergh, who has been testifying before the U. S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the Aid to Democracies Bill, is very clearly not a military expert. That he is an intrepid aviator is shown by his solo flight across the Atlantic, that he is of an inventive turn of mind is clearly demonstrated by the part he played in helping to invent the mechanical heart. But there is nothing whatever in his record to suggest that he is in any way particularly well qualified either as an authority on international politics, or on military matters. He was not of an age during the last war to have had the opportunity of having any personal experience of fighting, and the conclusion' to be drawn is that his guesses are Probably just as. good, and no better than any other unqualified man. But as an advocate of the German case against the British -he is of value to the enemy because of the one feat in his life which enabled him to capture popular imagination.
It will be remembered that some years ago he made a visit to Germany, was cordially welcomed by Hitler and his gang, received a German decoration, and returned to the United States obviously impressed with what he saw and what the Germans told him. From that time onward he has ranged himself on the German side, and, posing as a good American desirous of keeping his country out of war, preaches lengthy exhortations to the text that Great Britain cannot possibly win, and that the best thing for the United States to do is to withhold all aid with the idea that it would make the war mercifully shorter, and lead to a nego-fiated peace. He bases his argument on the belief that the United States are at present in no danger, but would be if they were drawn into the war. Col. Lindbergh, if he really believes what he says, and is not actively supporting the German cause for reasons best known to himself, is apparently quite unable to appreciate the meanings of words, or to assess the significance of very patent facts. There is all the evidence in the world that the Nazis have penetrated deeply into all strata of American life, in the northern as well as the southern hemisphere for the' purpose of destroying the established Governments there, and subjecting all nations to Nazi dominance.
That is a fact which has been revealed in the course of the investigations of the Dies Committee, and to state that the United States faces no danger from Germany, is either a downright lie on his part, or comes from a wilful blindness brought about by his slavish, admiration of Hitler and all that he stands for.' The repeated declarations of the German leaders that they dre out' for world domination has apparently completely failed to convince him of that fact, and Col. Lind-borgh stands in the position of a man who refuses to believe the many confessions' of a criminal., It is not to be believed for one moment that he is actuated by any treasonable designs upon the United States, and it may be a matter of profound conviction that his country stands in no danger from the Nazi menace. But it must be pointed out that if that is indeed his belief, then his complete inability to recognize facts greatly decreases his credibility as an expert.
"That he has become the dupe of Hitler and his myrmidons has been apparent for some time, but his pro-German activities in the United States suggest that he is animated by a dislike of Britain, which contrasts strongly with the fact that when he was in trouble. from too much publicity in the United States it was Great Britain which afforded him the asylum, and privacy of which he, and his family stood in such great need. But there; the winter wind "is not so unkind as benefits forgot." Perhaps the best answer to Col. Lindbergh is the reply made at the same session to Senator Pepper by another colonel, and that one who knows what he is talking about, namely, Col. Robert McCormick:—"The Germans are not so tough, Senator,—I've been up against them." Col. Lindbergh has not; he has been fooled by the clever talk of the champagne sales man and his colleagues, and as an expert on anything but aviation and, perhaps mechanical engineering, would in all probability shine as a market gardener.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.