Evening star., 1932-10-30
Britain Concerned as
To American Election
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON. October 29.-Great Britain
no less than America is awaiting the
result of the presidential election with
extreme interest in view OF the effect
of that event upon vast problems which
are now imminent
This observer does not remember an
occasion when the forecasts of British
newspapers were SC unanimous re-
garding the probable decision Of the
American electorate. That impression
is based primarily on the opinions of
correspondents of English newspapers
in the United States. practically all
Of whom are agreed that Franklin D.
Roosevelt will win. but also upon the
calculation that no President can sur
vive the cumulative effect Of the most
disastrous three years in the history OF
the United States.
One has only TO count up the States
which the Democrats cannot lose" says
the Manchester Guardian. Ito see that
the reelection of a Republican Presi-
dent would be little short Of miracle"
X .
The view is widely expressed that an
important factor in favor of Roosevelt
is the deadlock which would arise in
the event Of the reelection Of Presi-
dent Hoover. The Democrats already
have majority in the House of Repre-
sentatives and there is practically a
guarantee OF Democratic control of Con-
greSS for the first two years Of the
regime Of the new President The re-
election of President Hoover in the
circumstances would create a stalemate
between the Executive and the LegiS-
lature pregnant with grave difficulties,
anC this consideration is expected to
influence a considerable section of the
electorate. which is less concerned to
secure party victory than to achieve
an efficient working machine of gov
ernment.
The bearing of the election on the
world situation is the subject of much
discussion. 1t is generally agreed that
the Republican policy on foreign affairs
is admirable President Hoover'S share
in the London naval agreement Is
cordially recognized and tribute is paid
to his courageous intervention in the
Disarmament Conference at a critical
moment, while Secretary Stimson's two
firm declarations on the subject Of
Manchuria are favorably contrasted
with the timorouS attitude Of the British
government.
HOoverS reelection would be welcome to
liberal opinion Throughout Europe as
assuring the continuance of the same
wise policy in regard to external affairs.
In this connection some fear is ex-
pressed that the prominence of Will
liam Randolph Hearst in the promotion
of Rooseveltis candidacy might fore
shadow a departure from the Hoover
attitude and a return to the iSolationist
position. Against this fear is placed
the fact that neither side in the cleo
tion has made capital out of differences
in foreign policy, and that in view Of
the worlds economic calamity. both
parties realize that return to the po-
sition after the war. when American
prosperity seemed independent Of the
Affections of the rest of the world, Is
now impossible. This consideration en-
cOurages the view that should the cleo
ton result in the substitution of
Roosevelt for Hoover. that fact would
not involve breach of the latter'S en-
lightened world policy.
* X X
Further confirmation of the removal
of foreign affairs from party issues is
furnished by Hoover'S selection of Nor
man Davis, who was member of the
Wilson administration. as a representa-
tive of the United States at the Dis
armament Conference, and by the fact
that Senator Swanson, who led the
American delegation at the conference
earlier in the year. is chairman Of the
Committee of Senators formed to pro-
mote RoOSevelt's candidacy.
In other respects liberal opinion Is
disposed to contemplate the possibility
of a Roosevelt victory without dissatis-
faction. His attitude on the tariff is
sue is cntrasted favorably with that
of Hoover While neither proposes can
collation. of war debts, Roosevelt favors
bringing tariffs down in order to in
crease international trade. so that debt
payments will be made possible: while
Hoover proposes to raise the tariffs and
collect the money, not by trade. out
in cash and to use the fruits OF the
transaction to sell American farm prod
ucts abroad at less than cost. This Is
frankly criticized as gospel Of despair.
koopyright. 1932S