The Detroit Tribune

Today it is Russia and not Britain and France. Russia alone among the major powers rang true in the hour of Europe's great trial. If democracy is going to sit idly by and see its allies raped while communist Russia assumes the moral leadership of Europe and the world. It takes no prophet to tell what is going to happen: Great Britain and France have done more within the last few months to strengthen communism and to weaken democracy than they can undo within the next generation. The shameful collapse of international morality incident to the sacrifice of Ethiopia and the further bargaining to sacrifice Czechoslovakia are two of the deadliest blows that have ever been struck at the heart of democracy. Our so-called statesmen side-step the issue when they place the survival of Yugoslavia over against the one of easing the little nation. The real issue in Europe today is not the survival of Ethiopia or Czechoslovakia but whether the leadership of Europe and the world is to be turned over to Hitler and Hitlerites. This writer wishes to go on record as saying his life is not worth living in a world led by Hitler. A man may as well die on the battlefield to save the world from Hitler and Hitlerism as to die a slow death in a tortured captive. What he is doing against the Jews he will do against the other minorities. Negroes included. It goes without saying therefore that in any war needed to overthrow Hitler and Hitlerism the Negroes will accord. When the nation is drawn in as it will be-- and should be. the Negro must do his part as he has always done. The day that will be fought in Czechoslovakia is not alone the battle of the Czechs. it is a battle for a principle by which the Negroes all survive or perish. Negroes need no longer hope for any special dispensation of fortune such as that by which they were freed and enfranchised. The Negro will henceforth share the responsibility and fate of his nation. and if it fares well he will fare well. and if it fares ill he will fare worse. Hard will be the fate of the Negro and this nation if Hitlerism is not stopped even if he must be stopped upon the bloody field of battle. The blood of Ethiopia is crying for vengeance!