Evening star., 1937-09-19
.BR|TA|NPARALYzED
IN FOREIGN POLICY.
Distortion of Politics by
Press Makes Public
Opinion CaI|ous.
BY JOHN T. WHITAKER.


LONDON, England, Sept. 18.-Eng-
land has suffered a reaction from
the idealism of the World War effort.
The same forces which prompted the
United States to reject the League of
Nations, after sponsoring it, were felt
in England, too. Why should the
British Navy be the policeman of the
world? Why be your neighbor's keep
er? Mind your own business! The
TACT that it might be your own busi-
ness-your own selfish interest-to
mind world affairs generally, meant
nothing against this reactionary force.
There have been other forces at
work, too, which divide British opin-
ion and paralyze British foreign pol
icy. There is strange journalism
IN England-the journalism of the
press barons. They apply to politics
IN newspapers with a million readers
each, the sensational technique of
distortion which the American press
in the main reserves for sex and mur-
der in the tabloids. The result of
screaming, and thoroughly irresponsi-
BILE screaming, too, is almost inevi-
table. Readers lose confidence. are
confused, become jaded and. after
while, cannot be stirred to that right
eous indignation which in the past
has made Englishmen the most for
midable Of foes.
Conservatives Favor Reich Pact.
In the postwar period the only
groups which seem to have been will
ing to fight for British interests
(Which they identify with world in
terests) are strangely enough the
paclflst-labor groups. Conservatives
on the other hand who thought Yer
sailles too mild and cheered when
France went into the Ruhr are now
the champions of an Anglo German
alliance. 1t is the extreme nation
alists here who ask that the colonies
be returned to Germany.
During the Ethiopian crisis the
conservative dislike of the League of
Nations proved, just as it had in the
Manchurian crisis, to be stronger
than fear for imperial security. In
huential conservative groups cheer
policy that makes Britains strategic
position in the Mediterranean i'm
possible and then champion colossal
rearmament to defend that position.
1t is very bewildering to the observer
who is especially impressed that
whatever Hitler or Mussolini does at
the expense of British security brings
cheers from large body of English
men and their press.
British capitalism-the strongest in
the world-shows a fear of COM
munism which would appear ludicrous
in France or the United States where
capitalism is confident enough to
have undertaken in each case far
reaching social programs.
Deluge After Capitalism.
The English capitalist says, After
us the deluge." He believes that
when England goes to war internal
revolution begins The civil popula-
ton will be particularly affected by
aerial bombing. What kind of pa
triotic resistance can be expected in
the depressed areas when miners who
have not got food to eat are suddenly
bombed from the air, for instance?
VIII they dig coal or turn against their
government?
This question by a British conserva-
tive explains what the Italian Fascist
means when he says, I'VE don't like
giving up personal liberties; we just
want TO achieve the discipline of the
English caste system" This explains
why the forces that bring conserva-
tive government to power here prefer
that it ignore foreign affairs, concen-
trate on an internal boom through
rearmament and keep the Socialists
out" This explains more than any,
thing else the seeming paradox of
present policy-where the Imperial
lists abandon imperial security wherev-
er the cry Of communism" is raised
Japan must have Manchuria lest
she turn to communism. Money and
support must be given Nazi rearma-
ment against Britain lest Germany
go into communism Sanctions
against Mussolini must not be ef-
fective lest they overthrow Musso-
lini and drive the country to COM
munism.
Sanctions Applied Once
HOW hypocritical sanctions"
seemed to correspondents with the
Italian armies who saw the tanks,
airplanes and trucks fueled always
with British petrol. Only once has
Great Britain applied sanctions, and
then swiftly and effectively. That
was when six British engineers were
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