Evening star., 1938-06-18
STRONG Foreign
POLICY EXPECTED
Sterner Language Is Seen
Now That Congress Has
Adjourned.
~ the Associated Press.

~ the ASSocletco freSS.
Some Of the sterner aspects Of the
Roosevelt-Hul foreign policy may
come to light with increasing fire.
quency now that Congress has packed
up its sounding board and gone home.
Furthermore, there are clear indi-
cations that during the Nations con-
Germ with domestic crises the State
Department has been quietly laying a
new corner stone Of policy: Keep ag-
gressor nations guessing" The old
policy was one Of calling every shot
before 1t was made.
Secretary Of State Hull has new evi-
dence that the American public con-
demns the barbarity of the warfare on
both sides Of the world: the Senate in
the closing hours Of the session ap-
proved a resolution condemning the
recent bombings Of civilian popula.
tions
These things and the Washington
talk lead to anticipation of further
stern warnings to aggressor nations
which, carrying no threat of war and
no jingoistic phrases, will indicate
that D America Is not tipping her
hand now, and (2) Americans will not
say under any circumstances that
Americans would not fight--nor under
what circumstances they would fight.
Clear Expression Difficult.
Clear expression of foreign policy
has been difficult during this, as
during every session of Congress. At
such times internationalists and pa
ciflsts use the congressional amplifier
to send confusing echoes rolling across
the country.
And the explosions of domestic is
sues muffle such statements as Secre-
tary Hulrs recent appeal at Nashville
to Americans and the world to throw
the weight Of their opinion against in.
ternational anarchists
Even the determination of the ad-
ministration to put through the big
gest peace time military budget in his
tory failed to be a clear indicator Of
the part this Government Is playing in
international affairs.
just as Congress closed there came
ah AAiNiSdOoi vi llIIlllCSS-AuUlIIdl
Yarnells clipped sentences to the
Japanese, turning down the suggestion
that he follow their advice as to the
disposition of American warships in
China.
Two Roads Open.
Secretary Hull. according to his
| friends and some of his political ad-
versaries. could take either of two
roads. He could take the pacifst-
isolationist one and advertise to the
world that whatever happens. short of
bombs dropped on American soil or
fleets steaming into our harbors, we
do not propose to fight. Or he could
take the ower-preparedness road and
insist on suppressing in their incep-
| tion movements which might lead to
the bombs and fleets.
Therein has lain dilemma. for he
has advisers who tell him what he has
limited at in speeches: That If it be-
, comes accepted in the capitals of the
world that, whatever happens, Amer
leans will not fight, things will happen.
They will happen in respect to the
| freedom Of ports, the high seas, the
property of Americans abroad, the
lives Of Americans on ships, the for.
eign trade of America, etc. In ths
end they are almost certain of them.
selves to infiame an America which,
for all its insistence on peace, can be
goaded to war.
Sharper Language Seen.
Still quoting persons who discuss
this subject in strictly off-the-record
fashion here. suppose he takes the
other tack. In the name of America,
he speaks sharply and defiantly when
these portentous things start to hap
pen. It should give the nations of
the world pause. but it does not If his
words are thrown back in his face
from many Of the representatives of
48 States, who make it plain that,
whatever his threats, America Is not
going to back them up
The presence Of q loud-speaking
Congress, jealous of its own part In
shaping foreign policy, certain to sub
ject every such utterance to suspicious
scrutiny, discourages the procedure
l along that line.