The Kennewick courier-reporter and the White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1938-1939, 1938-09-08

Entered as Second Class matter
ECONOMIC HAPPENINGS
The American people know thor
oughly the governments attitude
toward domestic policies and prob
lens. There have been few areas
in which the doings of government
and the politicians who run the
machine have been Of so much
concern to the average man and
woman. But it is probably a fact
that a relatively small proportion
Of the people have any adequate
realization of the immensely i'm
portant change that has taken place
to American foreign policy during
the last few years Of European and
Asiatic turmoil.
Two recent events have served to
further clarity this change. Sec
rotary of State Hull made burning
talk which, while it named no
names, was very obviously address
ed to the dictators of the world
Stressing again his passionately
held doctrines involving interna-
tional morality and order, he put
this country at the forefront of
those powers which will work for
peace-but which at the same time
are prepared for war, and are ready
and able to defend their rights at
all times. Two days later the Pres
ident went to Canada to dedicate
a new international bridge and
made a talk in which he assured
the Dominion that this country will
come to her aid if she is ever at
tackled.
AS Life expresses it, Bigger news
than either of the speeches, the
calm acceptance of them at home
served to show how far a determin-
ed President and his Secretary Of
State, in three years, have swung
Americans away from peace-at-any-
price isolation and toward an ac-
ceptance of active, responsible, war
risky participation in world af-
fairs" Ten years ago it would have
been incredible had the highest gov
eminent official made speeches of
these kinds. Today they are appar-
emily with approval by the major
itv If Americans.
It is of the utmost significance
that practically every policy Of the
New Deal has been roundly criti-
cized in many quarters with, gen.
orally speaking. the exception Of its
foreign policy. Because Of his sage
counsel, Secretary Hull has steadily
gained in stature since he entered
the Cabinet after q distinguished
career in Congress. The United
States, under the Hull policy, will
pull no nations chestnuts from the
fire. But 1t will use all the moral
Suasion at its commando to repel
1ggressors. It distrusts and dislikes
all the dictators. And 1t has UNI
surpassed forces to meet the issue il
and when It is forced.
This does not mean that there is
no criticism at all Of our present
foreign policy. One school favors
complete isolation, and would have
this country keep completely out Of
foreign affairs and let the belliger-
ent powers and their victims shift
for themselves. Another school,
Somewhat left-wing In its philoso-
ply, would have the U. s. take q
much more belligerant line than 1t
Is taking, even to the use Of threats.
But both these schools are very
much In the minority, and there
seems small chance that either will
get their programs over.
Whether American opinion has
created American foreign policy OF
American foreign policy has created
American opinion is q moot ques-
ton. But various surveys indicate
that the policy is remarkably in con-
sonance with the views of the people
at large. These surveys. for in
stance, show that American are
Overwhelmingly opposed to japan
and in sympathy with China. They
show q mounting diskuest for Eng
lands peace-at-any-price policy
They show active hatred of The
Nazis and Fascists. And they SHOW
that the bulk Of the people ar,
against Franco and want the Span
ish government to win.
It Is obvious that our foreign
policy has been q strong psyche
logical check on the ambitions O
agressor nations. They can't affor,
to lose even our formal friendship
and much less take a chance OF
arms and supply embargos. AS |
nation, we are rich, powerful, an,
remote from all other great powers
We are practically immune from at
tack-and in the event of war, w
would have the balance Of power
as we did in the last. That help
q great deal to keep the tenuou
peace of Ellrope as.- ~.