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WRITES—PAGE SEVENGives Soldier’s Viewpoints on Postwar U. S.. WorldFrance, Sept. SO, 1944,Early in August I submitted toRepresentative Robert M. Jones andto bis opponent, Mr. Earl Ludwig,four questions which I feel, will receive the major share of the Congress’ attention during the next two or more years.Up to this time I have received noreply from Mr. Ludwig, Mr, Jones turned the questions back to me writing, “I have been trying my level best to get the views of the soldiers, like yourself, who have the largest stake in this global war and in the future of our country. I would like sincerely to have your position on these subjects . . . .“Following is my reply to him: Your answer to my inquiry of early August was approximately what I had expected. I am pleased to hear that you are trying your level best to get. the soldiers’ point of view on the problems that will be facing us after the war.I would not have submitted those four questions to you if I had not already been trying to answer them myself. I do not claim to apeak for any group of soldiers but I have reached some tentative conclusions of my own.Following are the questions andmy present opinions concerning them. ,Peace Terms1. What general terms do you feel should be embodied In the peace treaty? * rI think the peace treaty and any organization designed to enforce its terms should be kept separate from any international organization formed to perpetuate the peace. The terms of surrender should be severe. The Axis powers (any powers with which the United States, Great Britain, and Russia have been jH war,) should be completely dLsarm-ed. This includes small arms. All facilities for the production of armsshould be scrapped or sold to one of the United Nations, the income from such sales applying to separations payments, All military organizations capable of training men for military life should be disbanded. A Joint Allied Commission employing a corps of spec tors should exercise continued supervision of the internal affairs of the defeated nations in order to Insure compliance with these terms.There should be no general disarmament of the winning powers, A Joint, airforce should be maintained within striking distance of the defeated nations. A year’s military training, of the-proper type (and I don t mean the type now given), should be given to all physically fitAmerican youth..in the long run, it is not desirable to conduct tiie world as an armed camp. Terhaps after five or ten years of enforced peace the *ind of leadership and public opinion requisite to international organization will have been emerged. Views on Tariff2. In the interest of post-war cooperation would you agree to a general reduction of tariffs?After the American Revolution,under the articles of Confederation,there was a period when one state levied a duty on imports from another. The result was a stopping of trade, financial panic, and legal chaos that threatened to provoke interstate warfare. The states ofthat time were big enough to sacrifice state sovereignity to secure the blessings of free trade under a federal unity. The result was the rapidrise of the powerful nation we know today.Modern transportation and communication have reduced the world until its size is comparable to the size of the Atlantic Seaboard in1789.When our political thinking catches up with the rapid advance of science, then we will be able to re-alize that free trade Is a prerequisite to both International prosperityand organization.Servicemen’s Release3. What is your conception of a proper plan for the release of servicemen?I heartily endorse the recently revealed war Department plan. Men who have the most combat time,! the most overseas time, the most army service should be released first. According to STARS and STRIPES, the War Department policy is, “no soldier will be kept in the military service, who Is not needed longer than will be necessary for him to be discharged through the established ' plan. No soldier will be released who is needed to win the war in the Pacific.” Congress must ensure that.Reconversion Thought4. In general, how do you feel that industrial reconversion should be handled?By industry itself. Our nation can bo rich only in goods. The more ofanything that Is produced, the cheaper it will be, the more will bo available for everyone. Price and production controls should be removed. Taxes on investment capital should be decreased so that it will become profitable to increase our productive and commercial facilities. For seven years the government tried to bring about full peace time production and it failed. No other depression ever lasted so iong. The answer seems obvious.I will not even pretend that these are the right answers or even good answers. Each question leads itself to detailed analysis involving many points I have not touched at all, in questions one, two and four I am perhaps, only outlining goals toward which we should strive.Only three things do I know. In (he interest of preserving civilization wc must ask of every proposal, “Will it further world order? will It increase production? Will H preserve our freedom?”
Newspaper Details
Piqua Daily Call
Piqua, Ohio, US
Mon, Oct 23, 1944
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Richard E.
OH, USA 28 Jun 2023
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