Evening star., 1933-04-10
WORLD ATTENTION
CENTER|NG HERE
Washington Is Declared to
Have Become DipIo-
matte Capital.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Roosevelt has transferred
as in wartime the capital of world
diplomacy from London and Paris to
Washington and has issued invitations
for what may develop into another
peace conference
BY asking the heads of nine govern
ments to come to Washington, the
President is avoiding any impression OF
/ favoritism such as followed the last
visit of Prime Minister Macdonald to
| the White House under the Hoover ad-
ministration. And if premiers and
| Presidents cannot come from foreign
republics, they know that some high
official will be welcome. Hence 1t may
be taken for granted that some one
higher than the rank of the ordinary
Ambassador will in most instances be
the rank and prestige of former Pre-
mier Herriot of France and the foreign
secretaries of other countries will con-
fer with Mr.. Roosevelt.
Old Fashioned Diplomacy.
The plan is to give them individual
audiences. It is a return to old-fash-
ioned diplomacy such as Europe was
accustomed to practice before the war
and it prevents the criticism Of the ir-
reconcibles that America is participat-
ing in new international conferences
without the authority of the Senate
Mr.. Roosevelt has the right under the
Constitution to be his own prime min
lister or foreign secretary. He can be his
own debt funding commission. Thus
the debate over whether or not to have
a commission and what its instructions
shall be is erased and a simple and di-
rect form of negotiations with plenary
powers to discuss anything or every
thing is substituted
Secretary Hull and his aides will play
big part in the consultations and un-
doubtedly members of the Senate will
be taken into the confidence of the
administration as the parleyS proceed.
But Mr.. Roosevelt is doing exactly
what Woodrow Wilson did-he is man
aging his own foreign policy and talk
ing directly with the heads of other
states or their representatives.
Enough has been disclosed to in
dicate that Mr.. Roosevelt has a new
approach to the problems of foreign
trade and the complicated questions
that have arisen to menace the peace
OF Europe. He has something to trade
with, namely, the debt settlements.
Europe has something to give America
AN assurance of peace by treaty
among its own states and a removal
OF trade restrictions.
German Question.
As for Germany and the outburst of
mediaevalism in the worm of a Hitler
dynasty, this, too, will be a phase of
world peace that will come up as the
delicate questions of future Franco
German relations are explored.
Mr.. Roosevelt has included Japan in
his conversations as he wants to keep
open the door to reconciliation in the
direct contact to win the foreign gov
ernments to new spirit OF world
responsibility. To what extent he can
pledge them American cooperation re-
mains to be seen, but it is unlikely that
he will embark on any peace plan re-
quiring formal commitments. Rather
will he try to inspire renewed faith in
the existing instruments of inter-
national relationships.
In the field of economic readjust-
ment, the President is hoping definitely
for new arrangements. The Secretary
of State, Mr. Hull, has plans for
reciprocal trade agreements. These
cannot be successful, however, unless
there is friendly atmosphere of give
and-take. It Is to attain such an
striving with the same cordiality that
is typical of his efforts to win over
political opponents in domestic affairs.
He will try the new deal in world
affairs and If he succeeds Americas
prestige will rise again to wartime
pinnacles.
Copyright. 1933J