DAILY NEBRASKAN
Tuesday, March 18, 1941
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Commentorials
from our
readers
2
Dear Sir:
Whether the British blockade Is unnecessar
ily Inhumane is a debatable question that might
well be the topic for a forum discussion. However,
in view of your denial of both Ignorance and in
tentional misrepresentation, a correction of some
of your statements may be helpfuk You have
twice misquoted Hoover, the second Instance
making it possible to Imply that he stated that
he had been contacted by the governments ef the
five democracies. At that time he made no such
claim.
thoritative statements that large amounts of food
stuffs were being confiscated for German use.
And the quotation from Petain which is dis
puted above was discovered to have been attributed
to retain in the Omaha World Herald and to Darlan
in the New York Times and several other publica
tions. If abundance of material means anything, Dr.
Gray certainly has that. For he has been collecting
dispatches relative to the food question since last
September. Nevertheless there are these other con
flicting statements from rather authoritative source
that leave plenty of props for the humanitarian
argument
Since the quotation of authorities Is apparent
ly of little weight, and a scholarly decision relative
te giving these countries aid must be based upoM
the judgments and reasoning of individuals, the
question of aid to the small democracies makes an
excellent question for debate.
That all aides to the question may be explored,
lems and who are interested in the principles at
stake must cooperate in putting it across. Names
of such interested parties should be turned in at
the NEBRASKAN office at once.
Then will the voice and reasoning of the stu
dents themselves reach conclusions of this question.
Authorities may mean nothing. But the discussion
of evidence before an interested round table group
should sort the wheat from the chaff, and leave
made.
An hour and a half of discussion proved only
that there are good authorities for either side, and
debatable rumors on the question that a conclu
sion either way must be based upon an individ
ual's own judgment.
.For instance, the DAILY'S copy of a letter
signed by members of the 1918 Belgium Relitf Com
mission to the effect that a similar plan had been
tional honor and national pride, but that is just one
of those facts of war we can't get away from.
It should be understood that I am not attempt
ing to justify either of the two belligerents except
on the basis of one criterion, namely, that of win
ning the wax. That seems to be the basic problem
at hand.
CHARLES OLDFATHER.
Tho this argument has not yet been presented
successful then, was met by Dr. Gray's quotations in the DAILY 1 presume it is the basis of the Hoo
f rom other members of that same committee declar- ver demands that the Nazi government send food
lag' such aid had been advantageous to Germany. stuffs into Belgium monthly so long as the relief
Tho a memorandum from the National Com- program lasts,
xnittee On Food For The Small Democracies de- According to TIME magazine, the German gov-
clares that Belgium, Dutch and Polish exiled gov- eminent has agreed to send 1 million bushels of
ernments In England have endorsed the plan, Dr. grain into the country monthly, and has started off
Gray has a similar statements from the British gov- this program with a shipment of 800,000 bushels al-
ernment to the effect that the Polish and Dutch ready.
have thus far not expressed themselves either way,
and Queen Wilhelmina has in fact opposed it
Again the statement in TIME magazine that
800,000 bushels of grain had already been shipped
into Belgium and that Germany had agreed to
ship 1 million bushels monthly so long as the re
lief program lasts, was countered by equally au-
' I
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Orclal 0IW j
Today the sole contact with their governments
of which he speaks is with a Belgian which did all who concerned in any way with it may
not then exist. Your quotations of Petain attributed their ideas, the DAILY is preparing a sta
te him a statement he did not make, nad omitted to dent roundtable discussion. Chairmaning such a
mention statements by both Petain and Darlan roundtable will be Dr. Gray himself, who because
acknowledging the German pressure under which ot hia research into its backgrounds, will be able to
they act The other authority you cite in your re- Drmg out he major issues involved,
ply to my letLer you apparently have not quoted, f tner ja t0 De a constructive discussion
but at that you have misnamed it. however, men who know something of the prob-
If food can be distributed without aiding Ger
many it should be, although not "for the van
quished alone." Spain and Finland certainly de
serve as much consideration as unoccupied
France. A proposal tf feed the peoples of Europe,
however, should not teem with misstatements,
condemn the English while finding no blame in
Germany, and give that country credit where it
it not due.
Neither Hoover nor the National Committee on evcryone with at least a clearer idea of where the
Food has made the attacks on the English ("cruel responsibility of giving aid should lie.
as they come," "British obstancy," "shameful acts,"
"unnecessary inhuraaneness") you have thought Food for Germany, regardless . . .
advisable. The only hint of possible German mis-. Dear Editor:
deeds I can find in your two editorials adjmits they I have been following with great interest the
have carted out goods. 'Germany is doing every- arguments of the past week in the DAILY con
thing in her power to feed the vanquished peoples' sidering tv question of shipments of food to France
may be forcefully stated but it is not properly over- or Belgium. The British have been condemned for
emphasized. It is false. refusing to consider the possibility of relinquishing
Any decision upon the proper issue ought to be their blockade,
made after consideration of a number of questions. The arguments for the proposal can be boiled
One of these is concerned with German misuse of down to the fact that there is a belief that it would
relief supplies in 1914-1918. Hoover and other in- be possible to see that all of the food got to the
formed Americans give contradictory accounts both French people who needed it and none would get
of which should be considered. The German imports to the German people or to the German army to be
of food from the conquered countries today and the used for food or for the extraction of products
fact that until recently at least their soldiers were which could be used to build up German military
consuming Belgian supplies in Belgium is another strength.
issue. It should be obvious that the Germans are al-
Indirect gains such as those from forced la- lowing the French, and for that matter the people
ber and from dumping thousands of unwanted 'of all the countries under Nazi domination, only
souls out of Germany into Poland and unoccupied enough food to keep them alive and possibly to
France is still another. The different circum- keep them from being too rebellious,
stances in the different areas, must be under- Are we to assume that these people would be
stood. In Finland, for example, the blocadc is only allowed to procure the same amount of food from
a minor obstacle. Hoover should explain clearly the Germans, if they were getting food from other
why he dropped his prerequisite that Germany sources. I personally feel that just the opposite re
return the stocks she had seized. suit would be obtained. The Germans would un
The English people too are suffering from the doubtedly take away for their own use just about
failings of former governments. Should the German as much as was given by the United States,
blocade be relaxed for them in proportion as they Thus it would seem clear to me that we might
relax theirs of Belgium? We freely adopted last No- as well send food directly to the Germans for that
vember a policy of aiding England. Should we, who would be in effect what we would be doing. Obri
arc not shedding our blood, overrule the considered ously, we can not excuse the British for making
policy of the English? Certainly before any discus- their decision on any humanitarian grounds. But is
sion is made both sides of these questions ought to it likely that the Germans would give just as def
be studied. inite a "No" to any proposal to release food to the
G. W. GRAY. British people by lifting their blockades. I person
At the close of a weeks debate in the DAILY ally feel that that is what we are asking the British
editorial columns on "aid to the small democracies,1' to do for the Germans.
during which authorities were questioned rather lib- This whole problem breaks down the one basic
erally, and charges of Ignorance and maliciousness question: Who fights a war? The answer is ob
were cast about on all sides, Dr. Gray and your edi- viously everyone. That is the way the world is
tor got together yesterday afternoon, to decide who constituted at the present time. Obviously, no one
had the best grounds for the statements he had likes to see people starve for the purpose of na-
Washington vs. Berlin
President Roosevelt's Saturday night speech calling upon the na
tion to sacrifice in the interest of "unqualified; immediate ,all-out" aid
for Britain and others fighting aggressors has been received with ac
claim in this country and the anti-axis nations.
Both American and foreign papers praised the strong, decisive
stand outlined in the speech. The independent Newark (N. J.) Star
Ledger called it "an admirable summary of the administration's anti
axis policy." The Republican Los Angeles Times responded by saying,
"The nation must answer the president's call by making an sacrifice
necessary. . . ."
London and Athens papers hailed the speech as a definite pledge
of vigorous aid in their fight against Hitler, and the Athens radio de
clared that the presidents words "officially and irrevocably signed
the death warrant of the new order."
Axis opinion was Just as definite, though of a deeidedly different
tenor. Adolf Hitler, speaking 24 hours after the president, declared:
"No power and no support coming from any part of the world can
change the outcome of this battle in any respect. England will fall."
Meanwhile congress moved rapidly to make available the seven
billion dollars requested by the President for operations authorized by
the lease-lend bill.
Already approved by the House appropriations committee, the bill
is expected to pass the House Wednesday. Senator Byrnes, administra
tion strategist in the upper house, predicted passage by the Senate
next week, though Senator Nye served notice that he would attempt
to reduce the amount of the appropriation below seven billion.
Senator Nye also speculated to the effect that the president's
promise that England will get the munitions America makes might
mean convoying cargo vessels by the United States navy.
Replying to this Senator Glass of Virginia said he did not think
convoys were meant, but added: "If the president means convoys, I'm
in favor of sending convoys. In fact, I'm in favor of doing anything
that would beat hell out of Hitler."
Next Tuesday . . .
Susies come to campus
If Germany lives up to her agreements as evi
dence from civil authorities suggests she did in
1914-18, then this does not present a problem. If
she fails to live up to these agreements, the Na
tional Committee on Food for the Small Democra
cies contends that further aid will not be forth-cominng.
Nebraska men who aren't, dated
up and who want to make a date
with one of tha Stephens Susies
who arrive here next Tuesday will
have to move fast for available
dates are going like the proverbial
hotcakes.
The women from Missouri are
coming 690 strong, according to
Pat Lahr, Union social director,
and will be entertained at a two
hour dance session by Nebraska
men.
To arrange a date, men should
see Pat Lahr. They will have their
pick of all girls not already dated
and they are given heights as
well as names and home towns of
the girls so Mr. Nebraska at a
. . . 690 strong
quick five feet four won't find
five feet eleven.
Leave at C p. m.
The women on this trip have a
full schedule before they reach
Lincoln. After the tea dance the
wom a leave Lincoln at 6 p. m.
and arrive in Columbia at 6:30 the
following morning. Thursday, they
will resume their regular class
schedule.
Their two weeks tour began last
Thursday. Itinerary included San
ta Fe, New Mexico, Grand Canyon,
Hopi Indian country, Los Angeles
and Hollywood, San Francisco,
British Columbia and the Northwest
Coeds shudder
tvhen prof brings
snahes to class
Minus flute and robe, Prof. M.
J. Harbaugh of the zoology de
partment, has first year biology
students believing that he can
rank with the Orientals in snake
charming.
Professor Harbaugh and his lit
tle snakes put on their exhibition
at the weekly biology lecture pe
riod this week as a part of his
talk on the biological importance
ef snakes.
Coeds in the front row were
nervous when Prof. Harbaugh
first mentioned the subject and
when he pulled a black snake and
a garter snake both non-poision-eua,
out of a small cage, they
were really jumping.
Professor Harbaugh left a poisi
onous rattleuiake in the cage, but
told students about the time he
was experimenting witu one.
"While I was stroking his head, I
placed my hand to close to its
mouth, and he bit me," said'the
professor as student eagerly wait
ed for the results. After a pause,
he answered, "Well, I'm still here.
But the snake died, right afterwards.
Sigma Alpha Iota
inducts 12 women
Sigma Alpha Iota, honorary
musical sorority, held initiation
last Thursday inducting 12 women
into the society. On Friday Found
ers Day banquet was held at the
Cornhusker hotel.
Speaking at the banquet was
Mrs. Clarence Sale of Dallas, Tex.,
the national erecutive secretary.
Those initiated were:
Dorothy Hendricks, Barbara
Miller, Wilma Vail Miller, Evelyn
Nerud, AJdyth Francke, Mary El
len Monnich, Nelda Michael, Pat
Kent Idella Johnson, Virginia
Clarke, Aronita Dachovsky, and
Ardis Freeman.
The
Daily Ncbraskan
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