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Leaders of prominent political and University organizations were unanimous in their approval of the United States' declaration of war yesterday, although a few men distinguished between involvement in a Pacific war, which they supported, and entry into a European war, of which they disapproved.
Edward Ames '42, president of the Harvard Liberal Union, voiced the backing of his group. Ames said, "I feel sure that the Liberal Union will fully support the declaration of war against Japan. I am glad to see that our long-standing policy of appeasement to Japan has been junked. We must now exert all our efforts to winning the war, and to winning the peace after the war."
A similar view was voiced by Eugene D. Keith '42, president of the Student Council, who declared: "As Mr. Hull said, there seemed to be no common basis for settlement. Since each side refused to capitulate, war was made inevitable. Our involvement with Japan means eventually war with the European dictators as well, and the sooner all Americans unite in vigorous support of the war, the sooner it will be over.
"I hope, however, that we won't forget in our waging of what will probably be a very long war, that such things as democratic rights in the country at large, and liberal education in the colleges in particular, are not luxuries lightly to be put aside."
Opposed to this viewpoint, Paul Killiam, Jr. '37, director of the Greater Boston area; America First Committee, stated: "The only thing to do is go through with the war, but I might suggest the hope that war with Japan will not be used as a wedge to get us into the war with Germany through the back door."
David K. Eichler 2G, chairman of the executive committee, Harvard Committee Against Military Intervention, asserted. "We heartily endorse the declaration of war against Japan, and we support all measures necessary for the defeat of Japan. Our positions with reference to involvement in European military affairs remains unchanged.
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