Evening star., 1932-12-31

Public opinion Is hoplessly divided
on the question of cooperation between
President Hoover and President-elect
Roosevelt in dealing with the European
debts Need Of prompt action is widely
upheld. The fact that one is officially
in control for limited period, while
the other has no authority until March
Is emphasized The desire of Mr..
Roosevelt to be free from commitments
under Hoover plan lmpresses many
persons. while others feel a more CO.
operative attitude on the part OF the
ward a solution of many problems to be
faced by the country during the period
before the change of administrations.
Mr.. Hoover's infiexibility and Mr..
Roosevelts skittishness," says the Bir-
mingham Age Herald (Democratic)
have contrived to halt an enterprise
in international understanding which
would have served the best interests OF
mankind" That paper emphasizes the
"loss of valuable time" and credits Mr..
Hoover with genuinely constructive
service" The Rochester Times Union
independently asserts that the Presi-
dents initiative will be applauded by
every friend of international under
standing and by all those who compre-
hend how vitally the question of the
war debts is tied up with possibilities
of world recovery" The Newark Eve
ming News Cndependent holds that
"Mr Roosevelt failed by taking the
cautious and narrowly legalistic atti-
tude" and that even his belated COM
ment on the published correspondence
with the White House is only self
justification for an uninspiring deed"
Pointing to the earlier ultra nation
alism" of President Hoover. the Baltl-
more Sun independent Democratic)
says that "he has been trying in these
last days of his administration to move
in the opposite direction" and con-
cludes: 1T seems that Mr. Roosevelt
would have been wise to pay more at
tention to the possible validity Of MIR.
less to possible plots. We think he
would have got farther on his way to-
ward an understanding with Europe,
and much farther on his way toward
the establishment of q rule of reason
In this Nation
mo one can blame Mr.. Roosevelt
for making wary approach to great
and vital question that is bound to loom
large for his administration" thinks the
Minneapolis Journal independent Re-
publican), though good faith and
guardianship of public interest are i'm
plicit in Mr.. Hoover's endeavor to Sc
cure continuity of American action"
The New York Times independently
feels that "the correspondence as print
ed does honor to both Sides" and. as
suming that "they differ chiefly in the
matter of a new commission" sug-
gests that the President ''see what can
be done toward directing the existing
agencies Of diplomacy"
Services of a "fact-finding agency"
are welcomed by the Springfield (MasS)
Republican independently. which com
ments: president Hoover's efforts to
interlock the new administration with
questions promotes, however, most
excellent end. The President-elect, his
party friends and advisers have been
impressively and rightly warned that
they should be ready in March with
q matured program Of their own, for
which they will be fully responsible.
Full responsibility, indeed, will be in
accord with sound principles. Tor re-
sponsibility goes with authority, as it
ought"
Correctness of the Roosevelt attitude
is attested by the youngstown Vindi
Gator independent Democratic), the
Charleston Is. CO. Evening Post (Dem-
ocratic), the Asbury Park Evening Press
independent Democratic) and the
Scranton Times Oemocratic), while
the Sioux Falls Daily Argus-Leader
independent Republican, concludes:
president Hoover must assume re-
sponsibility for whatever he does. If
Gov. Roosevelt was supposedly in &C
cord he would have to share the blame
or credit for negotiations in which he
might not have had an entirely free
hand" The Omaha World-Herald
Independent Democratic) offers the