Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-24
A National Philosophy

~ i>OtiOItOI itiV9OPH/
With provoking frequency the
question recurs as to whether or not
the United States has a definite
foreign policy. Some writer's deny
the existence of any traditional pat
tern to which successive generations
of citizens need feel obligated. Other
publiciStS as confidently declare that
very clear-cut principles" are dis
cernible to even the most casual
reader of the history of American
relations with neighboring countries.
The latter school contends that
"the fundamentals of American
foreign policy" were laid down"
prior to 1923. Among these essen
tialS, it is argued, are included: The
freedom of the seas, avoidance of
ENHANCEMENT in European politics,
opposition to the transfer of Euro
pean territories in the Western
Hemisphere to any other non-Amer-
lean sovereignty, resistance to any
further European expansion in the
Americas, disapproval of European
interference in the domestic affairs
of independent American nations,
furtherance of trade on the basis of
reciprocity of treatment, continental
development and the natural and
inherent right of expatriation" by
which foreigners resident in the
United States may become citizens
by choice.
But there is reason to believe that
on occasion it has been expedient for
the United States to depart from the
limitations theoretically established
by the farewell address of George
Washington, the Monroe Doctrine
and such treaties as might have been
regarded as rigidly binding under
different conditions. Free traffic
over the ocean highways, for ex-
ample, has been surrendered in the
prevailing Neutrality Act. The United
States welcomed the interference of
Russia during the Civil War when
the feet of the Car appeared in
New York harbor ready for action
against France and Great Britain
If Abraham Lincoln should give the
signal to begin hoStilitieS.
Similarly, the conflict between the
United States and Spain led to Amer
lean occupation of the Philippines-a
procedure which Prof Samuel Flagg
BemiS, author of standard text
book, calls" great alteration" The
same distinguished authority con-
Siders the intervention of the United
States in the (first) World War on
the side of the Allies against Ger
many strange interlude."
Yet each of these variations was
rational in the light of circumstances
which fairly might be viewed as COM
pelling. Together, they constitute
an alternative doctrine important
enough in itself to rank with the
very clear-cut principles" allegedly
devised by the fathers of the Re-
public in its infancy.
The problems of an intelligent and
Enthusiastically liberal attitude to-
ward American foreign relations,
however, are not to be solved by
romantic idealiSm such as hopeful
amateurs might cultivate in their
anxiety for peace and prosperity
without sacrifice. Rather, a starkly
realistic approach is needed, and
toward that end the College of Will
liam and Mary in Virginia, through
President John Stewart Bryan, has
announced a competition with
dozen cash prizes for the best essays
on THE Next Decade of American
Foreign Policy" 1t is proposed that
each cooperating institution
select, in whatever manner it sees
fit, a group of three students and a
faculty adviser" to draft a memo
randum which should not exceed
five thousand words in length, should
analyze the economic, political, geo.
graphic and other factors most
likely to influence our foreign policy,
and set forth in conclusion the basic
principles of the suggested policy"
The resultant manuscripts are to
be submitted not later than March
/ and will be judged by regional
| juries.
Frank acceptance Of a national
philosophy, elastic but not too re-
sponsive to pressure, well may accrue
from such an enterprise, and the
unknown benefactor who has pro-
vided funds for these awards deserves
the thanks of the whole people of his
country for his generosity.
Greeks hate Italians as they do