Evening star., 1939-10-10
The Political Mi|I
Intervention Of Roosevelt for Peace Hinges
On CIorificution Of Allies Attitude

experience for q President Of the
United States to use his good ofices
to end foreign war. Nor for a
President bearing the name Of
Roosevelt. The late President Theo-
dore Roosevelt stepped in to bring
an adjustment between Russia and
Japan, "a years ago, after the Russo
Japanese War had been going on
for a year.
Mr.. Roosevelt shrewdly chose the
right moment to step in. He made
his appeal to both the warning
nations-as friend-and succeeded
in bringing about the peace confer
ence which finally resulted in the
treaty Of Portsmouth New Hamp-
shire) concluded in July of 1905.
He steered the peace conference,
which was held in this country,
toward a peace of reconciliation.
James Morgan, writing of the con-
ference, said that "an impatient
Russian declared that his (Roose-
velt's) steel wrist hammered out
treaty that neither of the powers
wanted at that time and that terri
BILE American President-n strenu-
oso-was capable OF locking the con-
ferees into room and starving
them into submission
Situation Changes.
For his activities in behalf Of
peace, Theodore Roosevelt was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in
1906. Admittedly, however, the world
situation that confronted Theodore
Roosevelt In 1905 was vastly different
from that Of today. The United
States had no past record of inter-
vening in a World War-as it has
today-allied with the British and
the French against Germany.
Now the old enemies, Britain and
France, are allied again in war
against Germany. To some of the
Senators 1t appears that If Hitler is
inclined-as it has been rumored
from Berlin-to President Franklin
D. Roosevelt as a mediator in the
present struggle, he at least is sin
cere in a desire to bring about
peace. Mr. Roosevelt has never
minced words in discussing the So
called totalitarian states, and the
German government has been one
Of his principal targets.
As Senator Thomas, Democrat, OF
Utah has pointed out, a war must
end either with q negotiated peace
or at the point Of bayonet in the
hands Of one OF the belligerents
directed at the heart of the other.
If there is to be & negotiated peace,
why not one now before the holo-
| caust of war and destruction has
swept over Europe, Senator Thomas
asks.
Others Skeptical of Peace.
Other members of the Senate are
extremely skeptical. They are in
clined to believe that the British and
the French will not at this time
agree to peace on terms suggested
by Hitler, whose elimination from
the world picture they have an
nounced as the end sought in this
war. They admit. however, that
they have not yet heard any peace
terms suggested by the French and
the British as counter to the pro-
posal made in his recent address by
the German Chancellor.
In some quarters 1t is argued that
1t would be folly for President Roose-
welt and this Government to become
involved in an effort to straighten
out Europe's tangled skein; that
such q course would involve this
country in European politics. But
against this argument it is urged
that if America now stands aloof,
only to be drawn into the conflict
later as belligerent, its entangle-
ment In Europe would be far greater
and far more costly.
Not yet has the argument been
made in the Senate that this war
is our war and for that reason 1t is
necessary to sell arms to the allies,
although there has been much pri-