578 State Papers and Addresses

The shock of Pearl Harbor must not be allowed to wear off. The fact that
hundreds, or thousands, of American soldiers have died, or are dying, in the
Far East; that great numbers of defenseless women and children, and civilians
generally, including undoubtedly some Americans, have died as the result of
Japanese bombing in Manila, all seems too far removed from us to stir our
people as it should.

The united, inspired national spirit that is going to be necessary if we
are to carry through successfully this struggle against the war-efficient Axis
nations, isn't apparent to any general extent. It certainly isn't reflected by
any news of sell-outs in the gaiety belt of our big cities.

Unless, and until, the people of America come to a full and sober realization
that this isn't a war to be won in our spare time, and that the civilian defense
efforts required of all our adult population, can never be predicated on the basis
that they musn't interfere too seriously with present business activities—unless,
in a word, we can come to accept the realization that we, as a Nation, are in a
mighty tough spot for which we are by no means adequately prepared, -we will
never be able to buckle down with the determination and the spirit of resolve
that the times and our precarious military situation demands.

From a number of individual cases that have come to our attention, it
becomes increasingly apparent that our people generally do not appreciate how
serious the situation is. Even many of those who feel inspired to offer their
services, seem to have in the back of their mind the mental reservation that
the emergency duties which they are assuming must not take too much of their
time, must not interfere too seriously with the normal conduct of their business
and social life.

The Army leader who angrily declared, following a recent San Francisco
blackout order, that it would have been a good thing if the planes flying over-
head had dropped a few bombs on San Francisco, was merely exemplifying the.
situation as it exists to a great extent throughout the Country today.

If Maryland were in the Philippine Islands, and our capital, Annapolis,
were being attacked by thousands of brown-skinned warriors, while overhead
the enemy planes flew unceasingly, dropping bombs, killing civilians, starting
tremendous fires, would there be any mental reservation in the rush of all our
people to do everything possible, so that not only would the attack be thwarted,
but that the invader be driven back and utterly destroyed?

Many Americans ask why our Country is not better prepared. Why were
the British unable to hold Hong Kong? Why is Singapore endangered now,
with the threat of impending total collapse of British defense in that Far
Eastern section? Why will American soldiers and sailors and civilians, and
their brave allies among the Filipinos, continue to die before the attacks of
the conquest-mad Japs?

This answer is plain. Our boys have died, and more will die, because our
people haven't taken the situation seriously enough as individuals, or as a
Nation. We haven't produced for them the quantities of war materials, and