Evening star., 1938-04-10
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

/ present international crisis. The task
is not an easy one because. despite the
assertions of our helmsman that the ship
Is being kept on an even keel their ideas
as to how to steer it through the dangers to
come are as clear as the waters OF Muddy
River after a weeks rain.
The principal reason for our hestant
foreign policy is that the administration
and the country are working at cross
purposes. There Is complete lack Of
understanding between those "in charge"
and those who have entrusted them with
that mission.
The administration would like to take the
bull by the horns and attempt to put an
end to the present situation. fraught with
danger for the future Of this country, but
rank and file Of the citizens.
On the other hand. the people of the
United States, remembering the last war
ito make the world safe for democracy"
White House and the State Department
when they attempt to crack down on the
international outlaws.
Decline to Sell Idea.
Neither President Roosevelt nor the State
Department believes that the American
people are sufficiently conversant with for
eign affairs to understand why a strong
policy may be necessary. But they have
not had the courage to explain bluntly to
the country what America has at stake.
They confine their efforts to enigmatic
statements Of stereotyped grave concern"
or abstract discussions and "denunciations"
with veiled threats like the Chicago quar-
antine speech, but do not cross the is for
fear of international complications.
Not long ago one of Mr. Roosevelt's close
advisers stated to this writer that if the
President were to take of his coat and tell
the country all We would have to break of
diplomatic niceties at time when other
countries have adopted as their slogan IT
can do what I want; please keep off my
grass"
When the American Government made
friendly representations in Berlin regarding
the persecution of Jews and Catholics It
was politely but firmly informed that Ger
many is sovereign state which would
brook no interference in its internal affairs.
And as the German government would not
presume to make representations regarding
certain lynchings in the South. so it expects
the American Government not to interfere
with the fate Of the subjects of the Reich
Despite this rebuff. the Presidents advisers
do not believe that he ought to risk blunt
statements to the people who have elected
him, for fear it might hurt the feelings Of
some countries with whom the United
States has friendly" relations.
Wealth Of Confusion.
The administration realizes that the
issues are being obscured by the many
cross-currents which are inevitable in
times like these. Writers, commentators,
radio speakers, lecturers, some in good
faith, others in the pay Of interested gov
ernments, are contributing further to con.
fuse the issues. There is no complaint
about the undercurrentS which exist today
because I'VE live in democracy in which
free expression of opinion is guaranteed to
all its citizens except maybe to the Presi-
dent Of the United States. Fear of knitted
brows abroad is muzzling our helmsman.
Since the Marco Polo Bridge incident in
Peiplng last summer, Secretary Cordell
Hull has realized that the world is enter
n M Il
history. He warned his associates and
some foreign diplomats that the reign of
outiawry had begun, that unless drastic
steps were taken the totalitarian state idea
would prevail and individual freedom dis
appear. Nothing but a determined stand
would stop the onward march of the die
tatorships and Of rule by force.
He said all this but dared not follow his
convictions with action. He was chary
OF public opinion and expressed his beliefs
only in q new set of IA points. The Presi-
dent was more daring in October when he
sprang on the world and his own advisers
the Chicago quarantine speech. Had he
consulted his Secretary of State he would
probably not have used the word "quaran-
tine" Hull is Tennesseean mountaineer
and a fighter; as such he does not believe
In pointing guns without shooting
Davis Gets Orders.
But both men carefully prepared for the
Brussels conference summoned in connec-
ton with the violation of the Nine Power
Pact. Norman Davis, the Presidents AM
bassador at Large, was instructed by Mr..
Roosevelt himself ito remain there until
the spring flowers come out, and not to
come back without some positive results"
Davis. = pacifist who has attended all the
limitation Of arms conferences, prepared
on the basis of these instructions a bang
out speech. He sent the draft from Brus-
sells to the State Department and to his
afna1ement it was returned 30 blue penciled
that he could not recognize it. Hugh Will
son, the Assistant Secretary of State, con-
vinced the helmsmen in the interval be-
tween Davis departure and the opening Of
the conference that an aggressive and blunt
speech would offend the japanese. Faced
with the peace at any price" movements,
the utterances of isolationist Congressman
and the uncertainty of public opinion, the
Assistant Secretary's advice prevailed.
The Panay incident received similar
treatment. Mr.. Roosevelt was wrought up
by the daring of the japanese in attacking