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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 9, 1941)
WectnesHay, Aprils, 2 DAILY NEBRASKAN fcdiiohiaL QommsmL Student, prof present pro and eon of Hoover plan to send food to European democracies Schroeder pledges support . In order to make any intelligent decision as to the merits of the Hoover plan for sending food to the small democracies of Europe it is necessary to understand its aims and actual workings. Three important phases of the program must first be noticed. First: Its purpose. It is contended by the op position that Germany would favor such a plan only If she considered that it would be of benefit to her. The purpose of the plan, however, is to alleviate the condi tions of the inhabitants of conquered Europe without aiding either England or Germany, at least to any ap preciable extent. Second, the food sent from the United States will be a supplement to the domestic supply and to the 1,000,000 bushels of wheat per month which Germany will be re quired, under the terms of the plan, to give. It will not decrease Germany's contribution. Nor will Germany be able to seize any of this food without the knowledge of the American relief commission which will supervise the feeding, as the food will be handled through soup kitch ens, and Individuals will be required to get each meal separately. It has been said by opponents of the plan that the German government will give its victims more than the 1,000,000 bushels of whrat per month if the Hoover plan is not carried out, and that therefore food we send to Europe will merely release that amount to the Ger mans. To disprove this statement it is necessary to study the aims of the nazi government as opposed to those o fthe Hoover relief commission. The former will furnish only enough food to keep the Belgian peo ple alive, and to keep the men at work in her factories. Together with domestic supplies (Dr. Gray has de clared Western Europe to be 85 percent self sufficient), 1,000,000 bushels of wheat per month should easily ac complish this task. With her own people on strict food rations, Germany does not feel that she is able to give more supplies. The Hoover relief commission, on the other hand, seeks to keep the Belgian people well fed and healthy. Its program is directed especially for the aid of mothers and children, whom, since they are non-essential to her war machinery, Germany will, to a large degree, neglect, keeping them alive but undernourished. There is no ques tion, with it, of a food shortage. On the contrary, the Hoover plan will pay the United States government cash for crop surplusses which are now serving no useful pur pose. Third, an initial experiment will be made in Bel gium to test whether these people can be fed without giving military advantage to either side. If Germany fails to carry out her promises, the plan will be dropped. If the plan is successful, it will be adapted for Poland, Norway, Holland, and France as well, and possibly Finland, where a food shortage exists, but where the problem may be met more easily by any relief agency, since the country Is not occupied by hostile armies. Ralph Schroeder. Gray in opposition Ex-presidcnt Hoover requests the American people to demand that England relax her blockade in order that Belgians be fed. I believe his proposal should be rejected. We have as a nation adopted the policy of aiding Eng land. Giving aid to England's enemy stultifies our na tional policy. The English believe that relaxing the blockade would aid their enemy, and they are shedding their blood. Those who believe that starvation must be pre vented must first show why they have ignored Spain a year ago as desperate as Belgium now is and now Infinitely worse to concentrate upon the less serious case of Belgium. If they are interested in Christianity and humanitarianism why not feed Spain first where aid to Germany and harm to England is not in ques tion? Choice of the less serious case may easily provide a plausible cover for those who are opposed to our na tional policy but who consider it inadvisable to say so. Before the German occupation, oils, fats and wheat were available for Belgium in other countries now oc cupied. This production and stores have been and are being taken by Germany. They feed her war effort while she boasts of her self sufficiency and reserves. The fish and fish oils of Norway; the wheat, sugar and potatoes of occupied France; and the meats and fats that pass from unoccupied France all should go to Belgium be fore we ask the English to relax their blockade. Great claims have been made for the previous suc cess in preventing Belgian aid from helping Germany. Last August Hoover was asked to explain given cases of American food then feeding Germans. He has never answered. His own peculiar record of requesting U. S. aid for Russians and later opposing it for Americans should be considered. Nor is it inappropriate when he predicts Belgium starvation to remember his prediction about growing grass. There are many ways of showing that the blockade cannot be relaxed without increasing German war po tential. For example the equation American wheat re placing German potatoes and thus making more alcohol, that is an equivalent for gasoline can be worked out easily. (Likewise fats to explosives) Germany now taxes, entirely apart from her other gains from that country, Belgium 53,000,000 yearly. (That will not be available for Belgium's destitute as long as Germany hopes that America will see that the destitute are relieved) Hoover by his campaign is encouraging Germany to make Bel gium destitute. They can easily believe that the more they starve Belgium the more Hoover will want to give all increasing their war potential. Those who ask the American government to interfere ought first to study both sides of the question. The case against the proposal is readily available but no highly skilled propaganda agency is pushing it upon the public Loyalty to our established national policy ought to be enough to lead Americans to study the facts before they act G. W. Gray. (Bulhiht The cause overall For the past six weeks the foreign policy of this country has been "every aid to Britain short of war." And the reason this country has accepted that policy ia because its statesmen right or wrong feel that a victory by England is essential to American economic security for years to come. All the materials and was supplies that America can muster, that policy suggests, must be forwarded to England immediately, before it is too late. Waiving any discussion of whether the tenets of this policy are well founded or not, so long as this country accepts that policy as its own, so long as it be lieves that a German victory will mean a collapse of American markets, and economic suppression with a lower standard of living to follow, the goals of the policy must be realized irregardless of temporary sac rifices by the American people. This is no time for labor to be quibbling over mo mentary increases in wages or over collective bargaining principles. This is no time for strikes, walkouts or other efforts which will slow up our defense production. For by acting in that manner we are making it easier for our accepted cause to be defeated and for permanent, stringent conditions to become widespread. Statements like that of William H. Davis, vice chair man of defense mediation boards to the effect that "gov ernment intervention now to prevent strikes is subjecting the American people to slavery" disregards altogether the fact that over failure to intervene, or the failure of the worker to work, may mean much more serious hard ships to follow. The worker now fears being overworked for a cause that a million and a half American soldiers may have to endanger their lives. This cause as public opin ion has accepted it is victory for our own sake. Which means the future of this country presumably depends upon the immediate response to Europe's cry for arms. We are therefore working to protect our way of life, our foreign markets, and our economic system itself. Many may justly criticize the policy accepted by this country. Many may charge that the fears of our peo ple have been instilled in them by a government desirous of world wide influence at any price. But regardless of these beliefs, American public opinion has spoken. Through its representatives in congress it has accepted the above policy. And since it has, America must stand together. Our influence abroad depends upon that unity, and the aid this country can offer depends upon the sac rifices individuals within the country will make. It is asking a lot to say labor must not strike. But it is asking no more than to ask a man to join the army, or to defend this country in any other way. We may change our policy, that is true. But so long as we don't; so long as we believe the things America as a whole now believes; labor, capital, the In dividuals everywhere must look beyond themselves. It would be disastrous to force the government to sup press the workers and enslave them against their will. And this will not be necessary If the laborer himself sees the importance of national unity in a time of crisis. But if he doesn't see the need and doesn't by his own free will cooperate, we fear a war regime will dictate its own terms here as well as abroad. For the stakes are too high. America cannot endanger democracy itself, which it believes is endangered, by selfish dissention within. The Daily Nebraskan Speaker- ( Continued from page 1.) braskans will take place earlier, however, as he will be the guest at a luncheon at the Union ar ranged by Dean R. A. Lyman of the pharmacy college. Prof. Joseph E. A. Alexis will tral, West, and South to be held attend the Association of Modern at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, Language Teachers of the Cen- April 18-19. rOBTUCTB TEAK. - BtafeMrtpUaa atetr are fl.M frr Brim tr fl.M tor tao Ukn tear. SS.M MaV4. btarfe NOT, U. hlm4 a HmU-cmn malt at the paatafnee as Lamia, Kefcraaka, aader Art af Caa tma. March (, 187). mm at sprclaj rata af aaatacr Bcmidtd lor a Krrtloa lias. Act af October S. IS1T. Aalaortied Sep tember M. IKX. 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Write DAYU SCHOOL SERVICE Ska (Us, Lkuk rUmu lews PreienU Friday, April 11 Hal Leonard and His Orchestra Direct from The Rminbom Ballroom Last Chance tohearthU fine band at popular prices. Hal opens May 1 In New York and will not be back la the Midwest EASTER GREETING CARDS For Family Sweetheart Friends Eastman Kodak Stores, Inc. 1221 0 Street r .!. t t !", '- I ri.i i uwr V" v . jror Jailer PLi, Easter Liliea ji.oo to $4.00 Hydrangea i.oo to 6.00 Azaleas 2.50 to 5.00 Baby Rambler Rose ......... 1.50 to 3.00 Saintpaulla Violet 1.00 to 2.00 Rosea Lille Carnation Jonquil Stock Kuapdragon Gardenia Orchid Bweetpea Pansie Frey ( 1338 O Street Frej 2-6928 17
