signed
by (WORLD WAR II LETTER)
(WORLD WAR II LETTER). TLS. 2pg. 8 ½” x 11”. July 7, 1945. No place [likely the Philippines]. A typed letter signed by Boris Clarke during the closing days of World War II. He wrote to his uncle Alfred Lane of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who was a Harvard professor. Clarke wrote “I have neglected my letter writing for the last few days because there have been a number of things to be done. One of these was a trip to Manila. I went there on the second and returned on the 4th. It takes from 7 to 8 hours a day to get there. The time I make on the highway, which is cement covered most of the way, depends on the traffic and the M.P.s. Today Col Patrick sent me up your last letter. I am quite interested in your stand about universal military training. I do not know whether because of my origin from a country with compulsory military training or from the anxiety we all lived thru in the beginning of this war when our inductees had to train in some camps with wooden guns and other field materiel, however I have always believed that universal training is not a threat to peace. It is not the compulsory military training that causes war in Europe. All the countries there had military training. The forces that create war are not preparedness, but economic and political. Germany went to war, but was not ready to attack Russia immediately, she needed some boosting of moral [sic], some victories to present to her people before she attacked a country that had a standing army, even if not so well equipped at that time. Although it takes England and the United States a short period of time before they can throw in a powerful and trained army, the weight of a trained and ready army is always a sobering factor to those that decide that this is the time to strike. I believe in military training, as a discipline. The comradeship, physical training and toughening, discipline, the training to take orders and to give orders, on the whole an experience quite different from the normal civilian experience, will strengthen the youth of our country. Many of the boys over here and in Europe could not live thru the shock that army life imposed on them. The change was too great for some. When they returned to civilian life the greatest percentage of them recovered. But in the army they were not able to render the service which I believe most of them sincerely wanted to give. Training of this sort when the emotional strain not so great because of the certain imminence of combat, as is the case now, will contribute to the strengthening of what we called some years ago character, and now call emotional stability, and adjustment. An argument like the above is not complete, unless you believe enough in it to take part. I myself most likely will not be called for universal training but I will be wholeheartedly in favor if such an opportunity is afforded my son…The war is still going on, even if there are no guns going off. Spheres of influence, the juggling of phrases as ‘government chosen by the people’, the question of bringing relief to the countries that need it, by whom and what pressure that would have in deciding the type of government that nation wants, are the weapons. We believe in democracy, other nations believe in a state controlled government, others in a benevolent dictatorship, and still others believe in their pocketbook. Although generally I have been in favor of Russia’s influence in Bulgaria, I disprove of some of her methods. I agree with you that USA civilian affairs units would have been of great value in the immediate emergency. The U.S. army C.A. aims to get the people on their feet, but it cost in the long run less. Here in the Philippines, C.A. has rebuild many rice mills, saw mills, has brought in seeds for vegetable gardens, and has provided the Commonwealth government with new trucks, to help in the organizing of transportation. These services are costly, but they are lasting. They have laid the foundation from which these services can grow. It is not just meeting the immediate emergency, it is the starting point for rehabilitation. Thru Patrick you have already received the news that I am on my way home…McArthur has declared the Philippines secure. The Commonwealth Govt is taking over the civil affairs…At first contact with the people here we are too apt to judge them by our own standards, and think that they are lazy. That is not the case. They have adopted their life to the environment, if we were to go on the way we do in the States, we would burn out very fast. The older (in residence) and wiser of the white people here have adopted the afternoon siesta…it tends to make my nights sleepless…”. The letter has mailing folds and the original envelope and is in fine condition. (Inventory #: 4293)
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