Evening star., 1940-01-21
Mice or Men?

confusion which surrounds the for
eign policy of the United States. In
stead of adhering to an enlightened
and clear cut program adapted to
the role this Nation ought to play as
a great world power, those charged
with the conduct of our external re-
lations appear to have embraced
what they mistakenly believe to be
safety first" policy. Such course
may offer some immediate domestic
political advantages, but this is not
the time to let these considerations
influence our relations with other
nations. Two ways of life-democ-
racy, which we espouse, and totali-
tarianism, which we detest,-are
locked in mortal combat in Europe,
and, as much as we might like to
ignore that conflict, we cannot escape
the fact that we have a vital interest
In its result.
But in addition to these purely
political aspects, there is evidence of
an even more serious flaw in the at
titude of number of our public
officials on questions of foreign pol
icy. This consists of an absurdly ex-
aggerated fear of giving offense to
other nations, a disposition to refrain
from exercising important and per-
fectly legitimate national functions
because some foreign nation might
object.
This peculiar psychology has been
evidenced on several recent occa-
sions. The Navy, for example, has
been anxious to spend a few million
dollars to improve harbor facilities
at Guam, our island outpost in the
Pacific, but Congress, afraid that
Japan might take offense, has re-
fused to appropriate the money. Such
extraordinary solicitude becomes ri
diculous In view of the fact that
Japan is believed to have made a
veritable fortress out of the island
OF Saipan, 120 miles north of Guam.
She will permit no foreign ship to
enter its harbor, nor is any foreign
plane permitted to fly over the island.
But we are not offended by japanese
activity on Saipan, despite the fact
that, in event of war, it might we'll be
used as an advance base for an at
tack on Hawaii. Nor has Japan given
the slightest indication that she is
concerned about the possibility of
giving offense to us; why, then,
should we be so timid about making
q few minor improvements at Guam?
Again, in the case of the proposed
unrestricted loan to Finland, this un-
reasonable difference to the supposed
wishes of foreign powers is seen.
Opponents of the loan say it might
give offense to Russia-the same
Russia which openly intervened in
Spain, marched its troops into Po-
land, assaulted Finland without the
slightest provocation and which is
still striving day and night to under
mine our own Government - in
complete Indifference to what we or
any other nation might think about
1t. The apostles of fear were heard
also when repeal of the arms en-
barge was under consideration. Ger
many, they said, might take offense
and our peace might be endangered.
But In that instance the President
asserted positive leadership, the en-
barge was repealed and the prophets
of disaster were proved to be wrong.
These instances are not cited to
imply that America should adopt
belligerent attitude toward other
nations, nor to suggest that we pat
tern our foreign policy after that of
Japan, Russia or Germany. Ours
ought to be policy which respects
the rights of others while manifest
ing a firm determination to promote
our own legitimate interests in what
ever peaceful manner seems to us
most appropriate. And we must
realize that we need to consider more
than the Immediate concerns OF
today, that we have important inter-
ests which will be vitality affected
three or five years from now by what
we do to protect them at this time.
Our present foreign policy takes
no real account of a distinction be-
tween right and wrong. We are out
spoken in our verbal professions OF
sympathy for Finland, but our states
men propose that officially we should
treat aggressor and victim OF aggres-
sion with a fine impartiality. Con-
tinued adherence to such a policy
can have no other effect than to
weaken the forces which stand for
decency and order in the world and
to strengthen and encourage the
nations which know no law but that
Of force-all to our own ultimate dis
advantage.
Seven years ago, President Roose-
velt, in his first inaugural address.
told the American people that "the
only thing we have to fear Is fear