Evening star., 1940-02-10
America Wakes Up

that the war which is tearing Europe
to pieces is no concern of ours. Yes
terday, in dual announcements at
the White House and State Depart
ment, action was forecast in two
different directions indicating that
tragic trans Atlantic events have
ceased to be mere news and have be-
come developments now command
ing the grave attention Of this gov
ernment.
It may not mean the end of Amer
lean isolationism, but the Welles ex-
ploratory mission to Great Britain,
France, Germany and Italy. and
simultaneous conferences at Wash
ington with neutral states on "even-
tual restoration of world peace" at
least represent breach in the wall
of indifference which we have been
rearing against "entanglement" and
involvement" in the affairs OF ma
tions beyond our sheltered shores.
For that consummation The Star
believes there will be a widespread
chorus of popular approval. Neither
the Undersecretary of States assign
ment to investigate wartime condl-
tions in the four western European
countries to which he will conflne
his tour, nor Secretary Hull's pre-
liminary inquiries" among the neu-
trail states denotes the slightest
intent or carries the remotest danger
that the United States may be led
down the road to war" though 1t
may be too much to hope that the
small but not yet stilled voice OF
isolationism at the Capitol will re-
frain from reading that interpreta-
ton into either or both proposals.
They are, in fact, more accurately
to be classified as among those
measures short of war. but stronger
than mere words" which President
Roosevelt once said were available
to the United States for registering
this peace loving democracy's re-
sentiment of the war-breeding and
war making policies which have been
drenching Asia and Europe in blood
and tears now for the past three
years.
At the White House the President
was at pains to emphasize that he is
sending Mr.. Welles to Europe Cd
without authority to make proposals
or commitments in the name OF the
Government of the United States"
and 90 without advance soundings
in any of the countries which the
Undersecretary of State will visit.
The first assurance is to- be taken
more literally than the second. TO
dispatch unannounced so high-rank-
ing an American official to Europe
in the midst of war would, at least,
be highly unusual Many European
statesmen are fond of depicting
Uncle Sam as the bull in the inter-
national china shop, but Sumner
Welles has hardly been cast for such
a role at this tragic hour. No
happier choice for so delicate a task
could possibly have been made.
The true significance of Mr.. Welles'
trip, which may have historic re-
suits, lies in the realization at
Washington that the peaceful, pros
porous and protected United States
cannot hope or expect to remain
indefinitely an island of opulence,
safety and tranquility in an encir-
cling sea OF world turbulence. 1t is
therefore genuinely American,
rather than an altruistically inter-
national move that the administra-
ton has initiated. The White House
communique speaks of mere study
of present conditions" 1t would be
ILLOGICAL to think that the fruits OF
such a study are desired purely Tor
the private delectation of the Pres
ident and his Secretary OF State.
That they are intended primarily to
serve as a basis for approaching a
practical liquidation of the war-to
suggest how, and when, effective
action, if any, in that direction may
properly be taken-is hardly open 10
question. :.
Mr.. Roosevelt obviously has con-
cluded it is time for the American
people to quit acting like ostriches-
time to lift their heads from the
sand, look about them, and see what,
if anything, can be done to keep the
world from completely falling apart.
It is difficult to doubt that the state
Departments coincidental efforts
and inquiries among neutral coun-
tries will meet with a sympathetic
response, for the wars which Ger
many and Russia are waglng have
ENDANGERED the life and economic
stability of the on-belligerent small
nations of Europe hardly less than
those of Great Britain and France.
-l D:-LL AI~,,