Essentials of American Policy in Event of German …..."r" '"' H)£NT1AI V...M,-; CF a^a ucan pci jc...

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" r " '"' H)£NT1AI V...M,-; CF a^a u c a n pci jc f i n ..;•/. GhiuaK vicr-^i^r 1. General The ^resent note presents certain observations on, rather than a comprehensive analysis of, what American policy should be in the evert of a total. German victory in the near future, '3y total victory is neant the destruction or elimination of lllied resistance on the estero front in the nert few week© or months* The continuation of resistance in the periphery of '.vestern Europe >r in the farflung territories of the French and British Empire* w i l l probably have l i t t l e influence on the final outcome. The e l i m i - nation or the conquest of the nerve centers of t>ese empires will seriously hinder effective resistance] further, the will to resistance will be more than weakened by the absence of a strong rallying force or neneleua. ?he latter cannot or will not be found in this country, and will certainly not be provided by the Allied navies, even if they should remain intact* 2* Tobable •.•erman i-'eace American policy will depend in the last analysis on the details of t h e peace t o be l o o s e d by Germany* Though these details renain a ystery, the bread terms of a Clemen peace s*y be sursdeed on the basis of the paut declarations ml actions of GerMn leaders* If the Treaty of 'uenster of 1940 is to reverse the course of things determined in the sane city by the Treaty of eatphalia of 1648, then the Holy Hasan 'Empire will be resusci- tated with Adolf Hitler donning the robes of the Holy Roman Emperor* In consonance with the speed brought about by the last three centuries, the successor to the Holy Empire w i l l also have under his sway at leaet the British Isles, the Near an 1 Mi l l i e ast, and Africa. The le^al forr of tl-se Oernan creation w i l l be, at most, of secondary importance. hether the French are granted a large lei^ree of autonon^, or Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Transcript of Essentials of American Policy in Event of German …..."r" '"' H)£NT1AI V...M,-; CF a^a ucan pci jc...

Page 1: Essentials of American Policy in Event of German …..."r" '"' H)£NT1AI V...M,-; CF a^a ucan pci jc f in ..;•/. GhiuaK vicr-^i^r 1. General The ^resent note presents certain observations

" r " '"' H)£NT1AI

V...M,-; CF

a^a u c a n pc i j c f i n ..;•/. GhiuaK vicr-^i^r

1 . General

The ^resent note presents ce r t a i n observations on, ra ther than a

comprehensive analysis o f , what American p o l i c y should be i n the evert of a

to ta l . German v i c t o r y i n the near f u t u r e , '3y t o t a l v i c t o r y i s neant the

des t ruc t ion or e l im ina t i on o f l l l i e d res is tance on the estero f r o n t i n the

ner t few week© or months* The cont inuat ion o f resistance i n the per iphery

of '.vestern Europe >r i n the f a r f l u n g t e r r i t o r i e s of the French and B r i t i s h

Empire* w i l l probably have l i t t l e in f luence on the f i n a l outcome. The e l i m i -

nat ion or the conquest o f the nerve centers o f t>ese empires w i l l ser ious ly

h inder e f f e c t i v e res is tance] f u r t h e r , the w i l l t o res is tance w i l l be more

than weakened by the absence o f a strong r a l l y i n g fo rce or neneleua. ?he

l a t t e r cannot or w i l l not be found i n t h i s count ry , and w i l l c e r t a i n l y not

be provided by t he A l l i e d navies, even i f they should remain i n t a c t *

2* Tobable •.•erman i-'eace

American p o l i c y w i l l depend i n the l a s t analys is on the d e t a i l s o f

the peace t o be l o o s e d by Germany* Though these d e t a i l s renain a • y s t e r y ,

the bread terms o f a Clemen peace s*y be sursdeed on the basis o f the paut

dec lara t ions ml ac t ions o f GerMn leaders* I f the Treaty o f 'uenster of

1940 i s t o reverse the course of th ings determined i n the sane c i t y by the

Treaty o f ea tpha l ia of 1648, then the Holy Hasan 'Empire w i l l be resusc i -

ta ted w i t h Adolf H i t l e r donning the robes o f the Holy Roman Emperor* In

consonance w i t h the speed brought about by the l a s t three centur ies , the

successor t o the Holy Empire w i l l a lso have under h i s sway a t leaet the

B r i t i s h I s l e s , the Near an 1 Mi l l i e a s t , and A f r i c a .

The l e ^ a l f o r r o f tl-se Oernan c rea t ion w i l l be, a t most, of secondary

importance. hether the French are granted a large lei^ree o f autonon^, o r Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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w* ether Joachim von Ribbantrop w i l l be able to resist the t e s t a t i o n of s i t t i n g

i n Buckingham Palace, w i l l not a l t e r the essential objectives of the 3en»an

leaders* The susceptibi l i t ies and aims or the ti*3*S*U* ma;, be ree lected f o r

a while, an! the services of the f a i t h f u l partner, Signer Mussol in i , w i l l be

exceedingly valuable* His airforce can be used to bott le up the All ied f l e e t

in he Mediterranean, h i s colonies can rerve as an excel lent springboard f o r

"morning up* resistance in the Mediterranean, the >15 Idlo 3 a s t , and A f r i c a ,

and ' l is navy, to gether w i t h that of o ther European powers, w i l l constitute

ar. important element for such "pacification" or domination as iai?ht be con-

sidered i r -e i i a te ly worthwhile or digestible* In the Immediate f u t u r e , there -

fore , the Jeraano-Italian creation w i l l probably comprise, a : t e r making

allowances f o r Soviet demands an- suscept ib i l i t ies , p r a c t i c a l l y the whole

o f Europe amd A f r i c a , and such par ts of the Middle East as the U*3*S*ft* i e

not w i l l i n g t o f i g h t f o r * I t i s un l i ke l y that the combination w i l l venture

further u n t i l the reorganisation of the above-mentioned areas has bean

achieved*

Judging by the speed of tlx? movement of the Gensan forces and the

comparatively amall material laaage i n f l i c t e d on Industr ia l plant and ccrasun-

i c a t i o n e , i t wo I d appear that the reorganization of the war - torn areas aid

oi the re3 t of the t e r r i t o r i e s acquired w i l l be r e la t i ve ly easy and quick*

I n other words, pract ica l ly the whole oi the industr ia l , cotnsercial, and ran/

material wealth of the r e g i e s from Narvik i n the Arctic Circle to the Cape

of Good Hope w i l l remain intact and w i l l serve? such rarposes as the new mas-

t e r s may agree upon* I t i s u n l i k e l y tha t the Jerraano-Ital ian combination w i l l

wish t o lead t h a t easy and peaceful l i f e wiich they have so scorned* Besides,

i f the new order i s t o aci i ievc, as iroisised, the mastery o f the governing

"races" f o r f ,at l eas t a thousand years " , i t w i l l be necessary tc prevent i n

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any and ever for® the possible revo l t of the conquered an1 t o s t r i ke devious-

l y or d i r e c t l y at enemies outside tiie newly formed " imper ia" . For t l d s i t

i s essent ia l to un i f y the whole area economically. This un i f i ca t i on would

have a th ree fo ld objectives (1) g iv ing the conquerors comic te cont ro l of the

essent ia l means ef production! (2) assuring an armed strength which w i l l keep

the conquered under perpetual subject ion, render the car ters impervious to

attack fro?, the outs ide, an] provide them w i th the means t o extern t h e i r sway,

d i r e c t l y or i n d i r e c t l y , to other areasj and (3) y i e l d i ng the highest standard

o f l i v i n g f o r the "masters1. The h igh ly centra l ized systems i n force i n

Germany and I t a l y are i dea l l y sui ted fo r these purposes* ?*iey are l i k e l y t o

be applied wi t h the greatest v igor and immediately f o r a monster armament

pro rami such a >rogram together w i t h pub l ic works w i l l have the advantage

of reabsorbing the demobilised men of the conquered nat ions. Further, these

systems permit many forms of pressure on r eca l c i t r an t s or opponents outside

the p o l i t i c a l j u r i s d i c t i o n of the systems* and narrj subtle ways of i n f i l t r a -

t i o n i n the a f f a i r s of others, Tie economic bargaining powers of a un i f i ed

and cent ra l ised Europe and I f r i c a are enormous, and the temptation to use

their wcr l 2 be toe great even f o r those not inc l ined to ambition or adventure,

rhe dangers confront ing the United states are, therefore, not d i r e c t .

Few, Colonel I indberg1s pronouncements notwithstanding, have a t t r i bu ted to the

Nazis the -wild scheme of an immediate invasion of th i s country by f l y i n g or

sa i l i r . r armadas. The subjugation of t h i s country to the aims and desires of

the Kasi—Fascist combination w i l l f i r s t be attempted by the isethods o f pres-

sure and d is in te gration appl ied to Aust r ia and Czecho-Slovalda. I t i s only

i f these do not succeed, an! a t a much l a t e r stage that actual invas'on may-

be t r i e d . Further, i f t h i s country does net p r o f i t by the lessons of recent

years, there i s l i t t l e reason to suppose tha t these devious an l less expensive

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r.etbods v r i l l not be successful*

Arericsn pol icy should ;>ave a twofold ob jec t ive , the prevention

of i n f i l t r a t i o n and d is in teg ra t ion t'.rough economic p resen ts and propaganda,

an-! the bu i ld ing up of an armed strength s u f f i c i e n t at least to disccura c

opes of a successful invasion. Heedless to sav, the act ion ca l led fo r w i l l

be stupendous but ce r ta in l y not outside the capaci t ies of t h i s country, ac-

t i o n w i l l also have to be imatdisfaej i t would have to assure the f i r s t objec-

t i v e almost at once and achieve the second w i t h i n eighteen months or two years.

The a s i - ascist conquerors w i l l continue t h e i r fever ish a c t i v i t y ; there i s

nothing i n t h e i r past act ions or pronouncements t o j u s t i f y the hope that they

w i l l not t r y to b r ing down the l as t stronghold oi (,pluto~democracyH whi ch

has been t h e i r avowed opponent and eneray f o r years an-i which, by i t s continued

exi stence, shews up the shortcomings of t h e i r can reglaes* The re; percussions

of the acts of the Chamberlains, Simons, iloares, Txmnets and ra lad ie rs

should be a suprens warning against baljf measures and against being lu l led.

1 nto a fa lse sense of secur i ty by the f a i r wor Is and promises, i n f a c t , by

the whole ba-; of t r i c k s of the Nazi- as c i s t conjurors.

S. -1 an American Vslfay

A fev? of the broad measures f o r achieving the twofold object ive

of American po l i cy are noted b r i e f l y below, i'hey cor ; r ise d ip lomat ic , f i nan -

c i a l , and economic measures*

A. diplomatic

1 , The purchase, lease, or acqu is i t ion by other means of the

Anglo- rench Islands do t t ing the A t l a n t i c and Pac i f i c Oceans

from Cape Verdi Islands to Hawaii. The importance o f these

is lands f o r the naval and a i r defense o f t h i s hemisphere and the

necessity fo r t h e i r immediate f o r t i f i c a t i o n i s ev ident . To Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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avcid t h e i r f a l l i n g under the j u r i s d i c t i o n of other hands, these

is lands should be acquired p r io r to Use d i c t a t i on of pimce. rheir

acqu is i t ion might become w r y urgent i n the event o f the A l l i ed

f l e e t beine handed ever tc the Conquerors i n re tu rn Tor peace cr

Tor the salvat ion from a i r borabardrsent of the open c i t i e s of England

and France. The deta i led means o f acquir ing them are outside the

scope o f t h i s notej claims of the United States on trie A l l i e d coun-

t r i e s and nat ionals might serve a t leas t as p a r t i a l sett lement. I f

d i f f i c u l t i e s ever pr ices should a r i se , f o r c i b l e seizure of those

is lands nearest the hemisphere might be j u s t i f i e d . Fhe leasing

o f s t ra teg ic points i n l a t i n Am* oica, both fo r reasons of lofense

an ! as a r oans of rendering f i n a n c i a l and economic assistance to

the s i s t e r repub l ics , also ieserves serious a t ten t ion .

2. rne conclusion of a fa r reaching agreement w i th the Japanese

concerning Pac i f ic possessions, economic and m i l i t a r y ras te rs .

This ahovld be ione even i f i t meant the cession o f the East Indies

anl Phi l ipp ines to the Japanese. I f necessary, such a t ransact ion

s igh t not be too great a pr ice t o pay f o r covering the Pac i f i c

f lank of th is hemisphere, m i releasing the American f l e e t fo r

service i n the A t l an t i c * I'he c o n f l i c t of ierroan, I t a l i a n and

Soviet i n te res ts -with those of the- Japanejse i n t h i s area, probably

assures a more or less natura l a l l i ance between the tpro countr ies at

t h i s t u r n o f wor ld events* Though the Japanese might become inde-

pendent i n oetrolcum supplies by acquir ing the Fast Indies* they

w i l l s t i l l requi re the raw mater ials and I n d u s t r i a l products i i t ^ r t e d

from t h i e beni sphere. M i f ac to r , together w i t h a Japanese desire

t o steer away Tram dependence cm supplies found i n areas under Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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* asi-Fasci at con t ro l and the fac t that th":s hemisphere o f f e r s an

easier an more l u c r a t i v e mar ret f o r Japanese s i l k and panufactured

products, wo; I d assure to the United s ta tes the regular de l i very of

such essent ia l raw mater ia ls of the Pac i f i c as t i n and rubber.

(Kequirements .in the former would be considerably reduced by the

purchase e i the e n t i r e Bo l i v ian output which normally roes to Tngland.)

I t r i g h t also be reca l l ed that the Japanese economic and soc ia l regime,

despite the inroads ade by the m i l i t a r y , i s e s s e n t i a l l y p lu toc ra t i c

atH, hence, n a t u r a l l y h o s t i l e ;o Nasl-Fascist conceptions.

5. the s e t t i n g up o f a juperconfederat ion of the nat ions of t h i s

hemisphere f o r -urpoaes of f o r e i g n p o l i c y sad defence, This cannot

be successfu l ly achieved unless acec . . anied by f i n a n c i a l and economic

aeasures which w i l l prevent the i n f i l t r a t i o n o f non-American d i s -

rup t i ng forces \ these are mentioned below. The means of f i n a n c i a l ,

economic, and other pressure at the d isposal of the United s tates

are vary subs tan t i a l , and should not be spared I n achieving t h i s

ob jec t . I f no t , the device of "d iv ide and rule11 which was so success-

f u l l y appl ied t o Europe might a lso become a r e a l i t y i n t h i s hemisphere.

•. ina- .c la l and .gonosd? i..easureg

1 . I n order t o l&plemsnt the p o l i t i c a l ob ject ives ou t l ined above

i t i s necessary to reor *aniae the system o f the fo re ign tra^Je o f t h i s

hemisphere* This reorganisat ion should be e f fec ted w i t h three aims

i n viisrw: (a) the prevent ion of economic pressure and i n f i l t r a t i o n

i n t h i s hemisphere by the fas i -Faaeist combination! (b) the "•reserva-

t i o n of a s u b s t a n t i a l par t o f United States f o re ign t rade ! and (c)

the geographic r e d i s t r i b u t i o n or the a l t e r a t i o n i n the composition

of the fo re ign trade of t h i s hemisphere when t h i s i s ca l l ed f o r by

reason of f o re ign p o l i c y or m i l i t a r y and defence s t ra tegy . Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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These aims cars be at ta ined e f f e c t i v e l y only by tho creat ion of

trad-: corporations fo r cen t ra l i s ing and con t ro l l i ng the fo re ign trade

of th i s hemisphere. Exports and imports cc I d be handled stef l tanecmsly

or separately* As regards exports, one ?nay envisage two corporations*

The f i r s t , which won I d be a l l -Assr i can , would deal exc lus ive ly w i t h those

products i n which the component >arts o f th is hemisphere are competi t ive,

e . ? . | wheat, cot ton, copper, sugar, petroleum products. Exp r t quotas

cculd be determined on the basis o f oast export surpluses! the cor poration

wc Id dispose of the combined export surplus as i t sm f i t and would

remunerate the various aersibc i on the basis of an average, or some other

agreed form o f , or ice obtained >n the en t i r e export* fbe ©rporat l on

would have to be a close c a r t e l , an " not a loo ie club o f t racers*

The second corporat ion might- be- so le ly a United States organisat ion*

Phis weul- deal i n such products of t h i s heiaisphere as the United States

imports, e*$* , n i c k e l , t i n , cof fee, cocoa, copra, and o i l seeds, hen

U* S* t o t a l iimports are equal to or i n excess of the export surplus of

the hemisphere, then the corporat ion could bay the en t i r e annual p rodue-

t i e n ar.i s e l l i t to manufacturers i n the United States. Such would be

the ease, f o r example, w i t h Bol iv ian t i n and 3ras i l ian and Ecuadoran cocoa.

I f , the coher hand, the output of the hemisphere i s i n excess of U* S#

requirements, e . g . , cof ee, a problem ar ises w i t h respect the disposal

of the excess* fhe coroora i i c n could, i n exchange f o r an opt ion on the

en t i re output , l i m i t production on som agreed basis* The disposal of

the excess might involve loss , but such loss would be very small compared

w i t h expenditure on a f l e e t s u f f i c i e n t t o protect every nook and corner

of the South American A t l an t i c seaboard, and the advantages obtained i n

preserving antJ extending ! * S. exports t c var ious ar t3 of the American

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herd sphere3.

The con t ro l of lm;>orts coul also be t t ted w i t h these corporat ions.

Ths roblems here would &;a in be twofo ld , The f i r s t would consist o f

l i i r . i t i n : im o r t s f r o : the outside to those products w i ch are not a v a i l -

ab le , a t a l l or i n s u f f i c i e n t amount, .in the hemisphere, or which cannot

be 'compensated'1 by i n t o r-heu&sphere t r -.de. The second problem would

cons is t i n ob ta in ing i f f >orts from ssarkets which are economically and

p o l i t i c a l l y the best customers of the hemisphere. For p o l i t i c s reasons,

as w e l l as f o r the pnr ose of obta in ing the best terms of interchange,

import i n an-i expor t ! n ; should be handled f o r the hemisphere: aa a whole*

The above proposal does not preclude the con t i nua i i n o f such trade

as I s )Oss'ble w i t h areas under Nasi-! ase s t dOirlnac on. But i t i s

essen t i a l t o observe a t l eas t f ou r c r i t e r i a i n the conduct of t h i s trade t

(a) the trade of the e n t i r e hemisphere should be handled as a wholej

(b) the m i l i t a r y and econoadc requirements o f t h i s hemisphere w i l l have

to be taken f u l l y i n t o account i n deciding the type and amount o f products

to be exported} (c) i n order t o e f f e c t a s h i f t o f labor and resources

may f r o r c e r t a i n overabundant aroHxcts, a ^ r e p r e s s i v e cur ta i lment o f

t h e i r ex:>ort should be foreseen; an! (d) the import requirements of

f r i e n d l y areas i n the h a d Tic or slsew ere should be attended t o f i r s t .

' t r t h e r , the i n c l u s i o n , f o r example, f A u s t r a l i a and New Zealand i the

sehens envisaged f o r the *®erlean hse^isnherc i s not a t a l l excluded. Such

i n d - s i >n wo , Id deoend <m the tenriS c f the a preeiaent -with the Japanese,

an t the degree t o which i t i s advisable, both econc x i ee l l y snd i r d l i t a r i l y ,

t e spread out tha t f a r .

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t * The working i f th© corporat ions would bee-owe loss d i f f i c u l t i f ac t ion

were taken to render the var ious >arta o f the hemisphere less comet i t i v e

and more eorr-Xiznentary. "-.is coclr? be jest done by • ••* investment

which would encoura^e a s h i f t of labor an; resources away from the produc-

t i on o f abundant staples such as wheat, cot ton, src^ar, and cof fee.

5. Fhe susoension o f gold purchases, Lf . f r i ca f a l l s under the sway of

the Nazi-Fascist combination, there i s no reason l e f t f o r the cont inuat ion

of U. 3« subsidies to South Af r ican and other nines* Fai r words fine!

prosdses about a res to ra t ion of the gold standard would be va in , fhere

i s no p o s s i b i l i t y of the I . 3. being able to dispose of even a f r a c t i o n

of i t s jo ld stock; i t can only add to i t * .'tith U. S» trade under the

con t ro l of the corporations irent onel above, the usual considerations

regarding the e f f e c t s of an appreciated do l la r no Ion ler apply. Hold

under earmark shou l i be consi iered as fo re ign gold 3 i t can e i ther be

returned t o the owners or kept f o r tliam i n s tora -c#

The general nsaintenance of ^o ld wrchaaes i n order to ass is t the

gold producing areas of th i s heed sphere i s not j u s t i f i e d e i t h e r . The

t o t a l gol • output of the hemisphere i n 1933 amounted to 401 m i l l i o n d o l -

l a r s , or about SO per cent oi the wor ld output . Production i n the ? • 3 .

an ) Canada amounted to 14.. and 185 t s l l l i o n d o l l a r s , whi le she value of

the production of the res t of the hemisphere isas only 34 m i l l i o n s . I f i t

i s considered advisable t o acquire t h i s go ld , i t shoul> be done by other

ireans than Treasury purchase. The l a t i n American output probably does

not amount to acre than 100 m i l l i o n d o l l a r s . I t i s doubt fu l whet'scr the

Canadian production should be sn. s id i scd , except as a temporary measure*

~anartian resr -rces and labor co I d be sh i f t ed to other uses w i t ; f a r

greater benef i t t o the hemisphere as a whole. Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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/ . rhe i-rpounding of a l l fo re ign assets other than those belonging to

the countr ies of t h i s hemisphere* This needs to be done w i th a view to

not rendering an help to the eneogr and t o preserving American resources

and e f f o r t f o r the rearmament program an I fo r the reorganisat ion of t he

hemisphere. A l l such assets should be held as cover f o r American claiias

abroad. I f r epa t r i a t i on i s to be allowed i t should be l im i t ed to the

y i e l d of such investments and assets, and should take the forrc of pur-

chases of cer ta in surplus American products, e.g«, cotton and tobacco,

l es t t h i s procedure should be considered raah and uneth ica l , i t rosy be

reca l led that American investors i n Germany and I t a l y fare 1 far1 worse, and

t h a t , from the nat iona l point of view, trie Anarican counterpart to these

fo re i gn-held assets js mostly/ the gold a t Fort Knox.

5. Heavy expenditures on reanaaen t . resent appropriat ions are hope-

l ess l y Inadequate fo r purposes of bu i ld ing up an e f f i c i e n t defence w i t h i n

the l i m i t e d t i r e ava i lab le . Two examples may be given i n support of tJi is

statement. Present a i r c r a f t production i n lersiaay, England, ranee, and

I t a l y , despite the imrraense d i f f i c i z l t i e s w i t h r e s e c t to labor , machinery,

and raw mater ia ls , i s probably we l l over the SO,000 planes a year which

President tooaenelt set up as a goal f o r t h i s ecvntry j and, according to

_ r . ickenbaeker, even t h i s l i m i t e d out r.it cannot be achieved, under present

a rep r ia t iens and p lans, before the autusrn of 1 41. Secondly, as f a r back

as August 1^39, termany alone had 500,000 men employed d i r e c t l y i n a i r c r a f t

product ion, and cap i ta l investment i n the indus t ry was at least 603 per

can, or a miniiauzn of 3 b i l l i o n .

These two examples, together w i t h the fo l low ing f igures on the present

armed strength of t h i s country, are adequate i l l u s t r a t i o n s of the need for

heavy appropr iat ions.

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&BZ

2m

Batt leships 15 A i r c r a f t ca r r i e rs 5 Heavy cru isers 18 Light cra isers 17 destroyers 219 SvbEoarines 95 A i r c r a f t 2,163 ' anpos/er—active 145,400 ?iavy reserves 55,035 Marinas 25,000

&BBL

A i r c r a f t 2,700 Manpower—active 241,000 National Guard 251,000 Reserves 144,714 Motor Vehicles 17,791 Tanks, e t c . 700 plus

A n t i - a i r c r a f t guns 400

Ant i - tank guns 744

There are only uwo methods f o r obta in ing the maximise e f f o r t from

pr i va te indus t ry i the temtan and I t a l i a n ir^thods of con t ro l and coercion,

or generous remuneration* E i ther method -w i l l achieve the essent ia l aimst

the lay ing down of ner, p lan t , the conversion or extension of ex is t i ng

p l a n t , and the drawing away of sachins too ls and s k i l l e d labor from peace-

to v-ar-fcirse occupations. i r John Simon* s budgets bear testiiaooy to the

d isasters t ha t accosr>any par simony, and lack of fo res igh t and co\irage.

Germany1 s aggregate budget accounts f o r w e l l over ha l f o f i t s nat iona l i n -

come j even pover ty-s t r icken I t a l y i s ievot ing about ha l f o f i t s nat iona l

income t o sa t i s f y i ng the ordinary and extraordinary needs of the State.

This country1 s a ;re^ate budget i n 1933 accounted f o r about one-seventh of

the t o t a l ineorae payaants to i nd i v i dua l s . And only a sna i l a ^ u n t of t h i a

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budget represented expenditure on defence as a a inst biie major part l o r

•err,-any and I t a l y . Fur ther , t h i s country has Inasnse resources o f mater-

i a l s , p lenty of excess i ndus t r i a l capacity and i d l e labor , and the in te res t

burden on the nat iona l debt i s r e l a t i v e l y sisal l . There i s no reason,

there fore , f o r hes i ta t ion . At the cost of a r e l a t i v e l y small increase

i n the i n te res t charges on the nat ional debt, the economic patrimony of

ind iv idua ls and of the nat ion m y be kept i n t a c t , and, more i - po r tan t

s t i l l , the s p i r i t u a l and i n t e l l e c t u a l heritage of Western c i v i l i s a t i o n

w i l l be .^reserved*

Hay 22, 1940

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