Evening star., 1938-03-18
Still in the World.

To millions of Americans who would
have welcomed palmer speaking about
the destruction of Austria and con-
current events in an aggression ridden
world, Secretary Hulls address on Our
Foreign Policy doubtless brings keen
disappointment. There is in it an ele-
ment of unreality-hallmarked by its
failure even so much as to mention
Vienna-which not only stamps the
speech as just another of those nloralist
preachments with which we have sur
feited other nations, but is also fresh
indication to them that about the only
contribution the United States is ready
to make, to check international
anarchy" is literary and oratorical.
Yet Mr.. Hull has performed one timely,
needed and immensely useful lesson in
rebuking extreme isolationists," or
'isolationists at any price" as he
pillories them. In language that minces
no words, he reminds our national shut
ms that America is still in the world
and has no intention of leaving it at the
behest OF political introverts who, being
incapable of thinking beyond the three
mile limit. fail to realize that isolation
Is not means to security, but fruit
full source of insecurity Because of
his conviction that the withdrawal of
our forces and interests in China, and
incidental surrender of fundamental
principles which must be the foundation
OF international order" would promote
not check, the reign of jungle law, Sec
retary Hull stands four square to the
wind against program of scuttle in the
Far East
He is no less firm in advocacy of nom
entangling cooperation with like
minded peoples. Unless there is such
concerted effort. the American Secretary
OF State sees small hope Of preventing
the reinforcement of the doctrine of
force. and. in It's wake, inexorably, a
relapse into barbarism" At that point,
had he chosen to bulwark argument
with fact, Mr.. Hull might appropriately
have alluded to the current RELAPSE to
barbarlsm' on the Danube, as exempli-
fled by the epidemic of suicides which
Hitlerism has sent sweeping over a
cowed and terrified Austria. A series of
simple news bulletins from Vienna might
prove more effective antidote to isola-
tionism than another homily on the
altruistic concepts of our foreign policy.
There are comprehensive exigencies
which compel political administration
to tread softly in a congressional cleo
fior year when approaching interna-
tional affairs. Mr.. Roosevelt's foreign
secretary deserves full credit at such a
time for pointing out that "seclu-
sionist viewpoint would inesca pably
carry the whole world back to the con-
ditions Of medieval chaos-couditions to
which some parts of both the eastern
and western worlds are already moving"
That is something for the grass roots to
put In their corn-cobs and smoke.
The guns Cordell Hull unlimbered at
the National Press Club, and whose
barks were carried by radio across all
the seas, may not-doubtless will not
call single halt in solitary aggressive
plan which international gangsters in
Europe or Asia may now have under
way or in contemplation. No inch of
Czechoslovakia, Spain or China may be
safer from spoliation than before the
Tennesseean's fortnight words agitated
the wave lengths. But his pronounce
ment achieves triple purpose of in
estimable value-it serves notice. on all
concerned % that America will not be
bullied or bluffed even from a world in
which democracy is in eclipse; 90 that
she intends to continue actively to
engage in the search for peace" and (3)
that she will maintain her strength and
her courage to that end
The $1,250,OO0, 900 naval expansion
program, about to be enacted by a Con-
gress uncorroded by Utopianism, is per-
suasive earnest of the foreign policy
enunciated by Secretary Hull. That, at
least, IL practical idealism.