The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-03-21
(By Staff Writer)

Under-Secretary of State, SUNNI
er Welles, to visit the heads OF
the principal European govern
ments.
Apparently Europe is as much
mystified as are Westinghouse
who are not in the Presidents
confidence. It seems to be clear,
in the light of such Information
as the newspaper correspondents
in Europe have been able to gath
er that the President sent no
peace proposals or plans for end
ing the war, as was at first wide
ly believed.
The Presidents emissary has
been politely received wherever
he has been, which is no more than
was expected. Neither he nor the
national leaders whom he has in
terviewed have given any intor-
nation to the public about their
conversations, beyond saying that
they were frank and cordial.
Piecing together the inconclu-
sive reports from Europe and
various items of conflicting Cos
sip supposed to emanate from the
White House, the political observ~
ers here have evolved theory
which is generally accepted as
plausible. That theory is that Mr..
Roosevelt sent Mr.. Welles to ex-
plore the possibilities of an early
ending of the war, in order to
help him the President TO
make up his mind whether he
would run for a third term or
not.
According to this theory, if Mr..
Welles' reports, when he gets
back, added to whatever informa-
ton the State Department has
from other sources, point to a
probable or possible termination
of hostilities between now and
July, then Mr.. Roosevelt will
decide that his chance of re-elec-
ton is not good enough to justi-
fly him in taking it, and will
gracefully withdraw while nam
ing the candidate he would pre-
fer to have the Democrats nomi-
nate. -.
Security Issue
If, on the other hand, Mr.. We'll
les reports that Germany is en-
gagged in a battle to the finish and
that the Allies are equally deter
mined to fight to the bitter end,
then this latest theory has it that
Mr.. Roosevelt will decide that he
can be reelected on the issue that
Americas security is endangered
by the possible victory of Ger
many, and that it would be I'M
patriotic for him to withdraw
while the national safety is
threatened.
Those who believe that the
Presidential mind is working in
that fashion point to the undeni-
able fact that one phase of Mr.
Roosevelt's second administration
which has met with the widest
public approval has been his
foreign policy. He has stood firm
ly on the platform of keeping the
United States out of war, while
it was his influence chiefly that
brought about the shaping of the
Neutrality Act in such way that
the United States can give almost
every sort of assistance to Eng
land and France, short of sending
battleships and soldiers to their
aid.
That the policy meets practical
ly unanimous public approval is
unquestionable. VIII her it
the criticisms of the Presidents
weighs strongly enough against
domestic policies, from within
and without his own party, to
overbalance the undoubted revolt
of many Democratic leaders, and
the aggressive attacks of the Re-
publicans, is question that only
next November's election can
answer, if the President decides
that he will run for a third term.
Controlling Factor
The political prognosticators
who are convinced that the war
issue will be the controlling fac
tor in bringing the President to a
decision for or against a third
term, point out with apparent
conviction that on no other basis
can Mr.. Roosevelt hope to get the
united support of his own party.
Any imminent threat to our ma
tional safety would, of course,
overshadow all domestic issues,
and even a plausible warning of
such danger might have the same
effect.
So, if this theory of the Presi-
dents purposes is based upon
anything more than guesswork,
Mr.. Roosevelt's announcement of
his intentions is likely to be de-
layed until the very eve of the