MEMO FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
Villard, Oswald Garrison
Memo For The White House By OSWALD GARRISON VILLARD AHIGH WASHINGTON official who was no less a person than James F. Byrnes, called together a group of newspapermen Dec. 22 to urge them to prepare...
...Byrnes, who is the President's alter ego, almost a sub-President, feel for a moment that the country has not already bled enough to make it realize that victories cannot be had without sacrifice...
...A high official assured the writer a year ago that it was true that the American people were not yet "sold" on the war, but that just as soon as the heavy casualty lists came in they would be...
...They are not defaulting on their jobs, but creating the most gigantic and astounding war production in human history...
...But that surely would be no reason for overshadowing this Christmas by Mr...
...If this writer were called upon to specify wherein the American people are falling short he would be unable to do so...
...They are not asking as yet for the conclusion of peace...
...The people are not defeatists...
...It would be extremely interesting if Mr...
...The casualty lists are large enough now to have brought losses into the range of almost every family's relationships or friendships...
...The first point to be noticed is that this presupposes that the American people are not at this moment supporting certain vital programs—a remarkable admission in itself...
...Alben Barkley of Kentucky, and others...
...This seemed to me then a foolish statement, for I believed that the casualty lists would not make the people more eager to lose their sons, but the reverse, and I believe that I am justified by this latest move of Mr...
...Byrnes But that doesn't mean that they like it or that there is mass enthusiasm for the struggle, or anything like the crusading spirit that marked the first World War, and the evidence all proves today that a great majority thoroughly dislikes the Roosevelt leadership...
...They have over-subscribed to bond issues and all the calls for private aid...
...I should like to pass this tip on to James Byrnes: A far better way for the government to win support for this bloody struggle would be to let the American people know what's going on, and what the final objectives of this country are when the war is over, and give them the proof that they are partners in the enterprise and not just as much pawns as the victims of the overseas dictators...
...The Administration is plainly aware of the rising tide of hostility to the President throughout the country which has shown itself in every poll since Pearl Harbor, and is now threatening the remaining in the Congress of such important Administration leaders as Speaker Sam Rayburn of Texas, Sen...
...Tide Of Hostility Nor should Mr...
...They are ready to see it through, and they want it finished as soon a3 possible...
...Byrnes had gone a little bit further and told us just where the people of the United States were failing to uphold the programs of the Administration...
...The growing dissatisfaction of the labor leaders is due to other causes than the unhappiness of millions of Americans at being in this war...
...Are Americans At Fault...
...They have accepted conscription of their sons with a minimum of complaint...
...That would produce a friendly reaction—if it is within the range of the Administration's power to win such...
...22 to urge them to prepare the people for the coming tremendous losses which are inevitable when the second front is established and our Armies begin the march overland to Berlin...
...As explained in a dispatch to the New York Times, those within the Administration, including the President, who are trying to "bring to the public a more realistic understanding of war and the cost of victory believe that if they are successful there will be no question of support for vital programs...
...Byrnes's bloody intelligence...
...Moreover, they believe that the people will recognize the futility of the belief that victories are relatively costless and that the war will be easily won...
...The explanation of this unwelcome Christmas gift to the American people to dampen whatever joys there were in this sad Christmas, was that the American people are "apathetic toward the necessity of making sacrifices for victory," and must be prepared to face the cost of victory that is coming...
...Lister Hill of Alabama, Sen...
...But that, Mr...
...On the eontrary, it will make them hate the war all the more, and will make them the more ready to criticize the Administration's shortcomings, such as the persistent secrecy of Mr...
...They have volunteered for civilian defense in more than sufficient numbers—only in the enlistment of women in the armed services has there been a lack of adequate response...
...They have poured into the factories and into the fields...
...Byrnes thinks, is not enough...
...This situation cannot be changed, in my judgment, by terrifying the American people in advance as to what they are going to face in the loss of their sons, brothers, and husbands...
...Estimates of the anticipated slaughter of young Americans run from 390,000 to 500,000, according to the varying accounts of reporters who were present at this cheerful occasion...
...A Tip For Mr...
...Such is the fate facing some of the millions of American troops now being assembled in England...
...Just what was the purpose of this move to prepare so many—perhaps a million—American parents for the catastrophe in store for them...
...Roosevelt in his conduct of the war and of his own part in it...
Vol. 8 • January 1944 • No. 2
