MIA > Archive > Draper > Militarization
From Labor Action, Vol. 14 No. 5, 30 January 1950, p. 2.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for the Marxists’ Internet Archive.
|
This is one of a series of articles on the militarization of American government and life, based on the findings of a committee of nationally known liberals. This committee, organized as the National Council Against Conscription, in February of last year published the booklet New Evidence of the Militarization of America. All the information and quotations used in the present series of articles comes from this booklet. |
The army and navy have been fastening militarism on American colonies and possessions as well as on South America.
In Puerto Rico, for example, the navy has decided to depopulate one of the oldest communities in the Western hemisphere, the fertile island of Vieques, and turn it into a military training base. The navy ordered half of the inhabitants or about 5,000 people to evacuate within a few months’ time.
This action meant the crippling of the agricultural economy since the island produces 20,000 tons of sugar annually and supports four sugar mills. To Puerto Rico, which does not have enough arable land to support a dense population, the navy’s action is a real calamity.
In the Pacific the navy rules territory which includes 2,000 islands or islets given to the United States in trust for the United Nations. Most of the islands are small but some are well known like the Mariana, Carolina and Marshall island groups.
A secret government report of a survey of these former Japanese islands. by the United States Commercial Company, a subsidiary of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, reveals that “The islands are worse off now than they were under Japanese rule.” The report “hints that the natives are being forced to work against their wishes.” Naval spokesmen refuse to allow the publication of the report or its summary [Los Angeles Daily News, Feb. 16–18, 1948].
The report claims that the navy has dispossessed natives of good but scarce farmland in order to establish golf courses and naval recreation areas. Natives have been refused access to farmland near abandoned air strips.
The navy has not only restricted imports from the United States but has placed high tariffs on goods imported from other areas. Wages paid to the natives are five to seven cents an hour for common labor and nine to 11½ cents an hour for skilled labor.
Senator Guy Cordon as a result of numerous questions about navy rule in the Pacific introduced a resolution calling for an investigation of navy rule. At a meeting of this committee on July 7, 1948, representatives of the Interior Department argued for administration by a civilian agency. The navy spokesman asked for a closed session of the committee in order to present their arguments for naval control. The congressional committee decided to postpone action until members could tour the islands and recommend legislation.
In addition to the island possessions of the United States and the military missions to Latin American countries and the Philippines which Congress has authorized, the military wants to maintain missions in a number of other countries.
General Marshall as secretary of state tried to get from Congress on behalf of the army, navy and State Departments, authorization “to detail military and naval missions to any foreign government whenever in the discretion of the president the public interest renders such a course advisable ...”
He advocated this not only “from the viewpoint of maintenance of international peace” but also from “that of strictly American interests in the field of economic development ...”
As justification of such a program General Marshall added:
“Abstinence from politics, a principle inculcated. in and observed by U.S. army and navy officers, makes them particularly well qualified, to instill that principle into the minds of the military and naval personnel of other countries.” [Memo dated Feb. 25, 1947]
In thus appearing to abstain from politics, the army is able with a strong hand to influence Congress regardless of who is elected. If the army really intended to abstain from politics, it would not attempt to influence congressional decisions or persuade the public about legislation in which it is interested.
Real power in a republic does not lie in the ability to influence elections so much as it does in the ability to influence important national decir sions, regardless of who the elected officials are. Likewise, the military serving in military missions in other countries can wield tremendous influence without actually incorporating those countries into a colonial system.
Last updated on 25 February 2023