"If we had the guts to do it, to send tariffs sky high, and to clamp on import quotas, we could still break Japan and save China," declared William Y. Elliott, professor of Government, in a discussion of "Economic Sanctions in American Diplomacy" at Leverett House Common Room, last night.

"More than that," Elliott added, "If Japan Cracks, Germany and Italy, the other members of the 'unholy trinity,' would be much easier to deal with, although they are not in as vulnerable an economic situation as Japan is."

Sanctions on Fascists Urged

Elliot advocated the application of sanctions to all Fascist countries, which depend on expansion for their existence, and in that way are a universal threat to democracy. While we would be running the risk of a war as a retaliatory measure, it would be better to "take the risk now, than to try to deal with it less effectively later."

Suggesting that it is best to meet the devil on his own ground, Elliott favored preparedness, and a renewal of the fighting spirit. "The defeatism in the air will kill democracy; by cracking these systems, we can save it. We don't have to accept the inevitable war on Hitler's terms."