The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-05-09
(By Staff Writer)

WASHINGTON. 1T IS Illpoo
sible for Washington to keep 1T
mind off the European war. 1t l:
no secret that official sentimen
reflects that of the American PEG
ple. who are more than 95T
hopeful that Germany will be de-
feated. But that hope is tempered
by facts known to the State De-
partment and high officials, in
Guiding some Congressional lead
ers, that indicate that as things
stand at present Germany has the
best of it.
There is no question that the
Administration has not taken the
public into its confidence. There
may be many good reasons to1
this. The basic reason, the best
observers here believe, has been
the fear that if the American po-
pie knew as much about the
European situation as high off,
Gals do, that knowledge might
start a war panic, like the one
which led us into the first World
War, twenty-three years ago. And
that, regardless of what some un-
informed gossip-mongers may be-
lieve, is what the responsible OF
ficials of the Government want to
avoid at any cost.
The plain fact is that neither
the Administration now in office
nor the opposition party which is
trying to gain control of the Gov
eminent, has any clearly defined
foreign policy to furnish a guide
in case the outcome of the present
conflict is the opposite of what
most Americans hope it will be.
Neither is there any clear-cut for
eign policy to govern our national
attitude in case of a situation de-
veloping in the Far East involv-
ing American rights and inter-
ests. This does not mean that no
preparations for the defense of
our shores in case of war are be-
ing made.
Definite Precautions
Definite precautions being TAX
en- against anything like an lnva-
sion from abroad are far beyond
ANYTHING that was anticipated a
wear ago. The United States is
getting itself all set to fight. But
the question which no leader IN
public affairs has yet answered
is: Who do we expect to fight
and what for?
In other words, neither the Adj
ministration nor the Republican
opposition has developed, or at
least proclaimed, national poll
CIV or foreign relations under
which our national position would
be clearly understood by our own
people and by the whole world,
regardless of which side is the
victor in the present conflict
overseas.
A victory for the British and
French alliance would call for no
change in our foreign relations. A
victory for Germany might call
for a radically new foreign poll
cy. If Italy should decide that her
interests run with Germany's,
that would certainly have a def
mite effect upon our relations with
the Mediterranean countries.
If Japan should succeed in get
ting German backing, what would
be the policy of the United States
when the Mikado's navy took
over the Dutch East Indies and
the British interests at Singapore
and decided to occupy the Phil
ippines?
These are some of the questions
to which nobody can or will give
an answer, partly because appar'
emily nobody has thought them
through to their ultimate conclu
sions, and partly because every
body concerned is afraid of rails
ing such questions in a presiden
tial election year.
It is clear enough that neither
the Democratic party as such, no
the Republican party, has an of
ficial party program on foreign
affairs. Among themselves, tn
leaders of each party have so lit
tie comprehension of the view
of other leaders that they hest
tate to put forth their own idea
for fear of stirring up party dis
sensions which might impair thei
chances in the election.
No Cear-Cut Policy
It does not seem likely now tina
anything like broad, clear-cu
statement of foreign policy is t.
be expected from either party be
fore election. What may happel
between now and election t.
swing public sentiment in tn
matter of the war and our par
in it nobody can guess. The for
eign policy of the United State