Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-06

the votasNr be David Lawrence.
construd \ in any way motivated
by the VaShe election turned.
But 1t Bpparent that because
OF the eXctnent of the election
campaign ohe American disinch-
nation to bene involved in a con-
troversy Wlthe foreign press dur
ing the CONT itself, the American
attitude toWe the editorial ex-
pressions OF 2 foreign press was
not vocal.
1t would Decreasing, indeed, to
know who inSed the brief cable
grams at f1rsAnd later the long
dispatches IN hich the press Of
foreign countrlbrazenly expressed
their preferences between RooSe-
welt and W1llkiF indicated in one
way or anothstheir feelings in
such a way ash leave no doubt
of their preferees.
The press of tmanv and Italv
oHenoeo and sold the press of
Great Britain b some of the
newspapers In Aintina and other
Latln American entries.
Press Repres4 Is Dictators.
Knowing that il he case of Euro
pean newspapers here is a close
relationship betwh the govern
ment and the pc amounting in
many instances absolute control
American obSerPf are forced to
conclude that fte On governments
permitted thems,es TO become in
volved in atteotS to influence
American publicpinion.
The British rss probably was
most offensive z editorials there
said clearly thatlere was no diff
ference in forei policy between
the two candidat,but asked Amer
leans to realize hat the British
wanted Mr.. Revelt reelected.
The in-Amean press edi-
torialized on hownportant it was
to the good nelbor policy for
President Roosevelt be continued
in power. Such catches, coming
as they did at tie when perhaps
the major issue W Mr.. Rooseyelt's
supposed intinacyith foreign af-
fairs as a justiflcon for a third
term, the foreign ess may be said
to have played arndirect. part In
the American caraign.
Not long ago, thPresident him.
self read to the sembled CORE
spondents dispatcfrom the Rome
correspondent of te New York
Times who said op,on and senti-
ment there favoredfr. Roosevelt's
defeat. While the coespondent was
expelled from Italy ! his dispatch,
the fact remains tbs \ passed the
censorship in the oriral instance.
Later on editorials irtle Nazi and
Italian press left n ioubt that,
while disclaiming ar preference,
there was a distinct nipathy to-
ward Mr.. Roosevelt.
Adverse Reatin.
This sort of thing foa the axis
countries undoubtedly nd exactly
the opposite effect fror hat which
the Nazi and italian etibrial writ
ers intended. for it ppa ably con-
verted many voters WI accepted
the New Deal cry tint the axis
wanted Mr.. Roosevelt oaten. But
the incident should illu,Ate to all
foreign governments tl1eabsurdity
Of trying to influence american
opinion from external slrces.
There is not much prObut some
that agents 4 foreign
governments may hav, played a
part in stimulating vote here or
here inside the Unia States
among organizations freely or un-
to one or the otAr of the
candidates. Buthis can
EASILY be detected and usuaR checks
tself out through opposin sides.
In this campaign, howter, the
flow of editorial which
correspondents abroad
.abled to the United Stat COM
nenting on the campaig as it
constitutes an unwar-
anted interference in AmeHa's in
ernal affairs and should Ie en-
,hatically repudiated. If 1 is in
ended to involve America n for
ign entanglements, no SUR way
o create such result canke i'm
Igined than for foreign pvern-
nents to inspire their pressp mix
nto Americas domestic affait
Public Can Retaliate.
There is no way, of couh, for
to enforce their views
the bad taste Evolved
ut there certainly will be con-
iderable damage done to he cause
t international co-operatioiH fore
earance isn't exercised b, foreign
overnments. The isolationst senti-
1ent in the United Stats is not
elished by Great Britain for in
lance, so comments by jtlr British
ewspapers on what capdidate they
ould like to see electid can only
a the flames of >anti-Ritish senti-
Int. Conversely, TIL editorials
I'm the Nasi and tt ban sources
on serve to intensity lhe pro-Ally
SEGMENT of those in knerica who
feehe dictator countrk are trying
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