Evening star., 1940-05-09
Cox Holds America
Indirectly 10 Blame
For European War
Says Administration
Is Doing Good Job in
Keeping U. S. Aloof

l
/ ATLANTA, May 9.-James M. Cox
standard bearer for the Democrats
in 1920, feels the present administra-
tion is doing a capital job Of keep
ing the United States out of q war
for which he holds this Nation in
directly responsible.
Speaking last night at q dinner
welcoming him here as the new
owner OF the Atlanta Journal, the
former Ohio Governor found the
most unfortunate phase of our
present political situation" in the
continuing claims that the admin
istration is trying to carry this Ma
ton into war"
An audience of 400 business and
professional men and public officials
| heard Mr.. Cox declare:
I'VE are living in days of such
emergency that we certainly ought
to be united in matters affecting
our foreign relations.
"The President has handled the
whole situation with rare skill and
any charge to the contrary is born
Of captious criticism"
Calls Hitler Daring.
He said that in times of war
there are certain things that must
be done" by the administration "but
when they are done they are fol-
lowed by charges that we are being
led into war"
The publisher noted that any one
who tries to predict the outcome of
the present warfare must take cog
nizance Of the fact that "the boot
black In the street" may make as
good guess as a statesman, but
made a cautious prediction Of an
allied victory in this fashion:
Hitler Is daring, and is taking
great chances, and one can't help but
feel there is an absence Of calcula-
ton In his plans. In the long run
resources and careful conduct of
analrs are more apt to be winning
factors-and that might indicate an
allied victory"
However" he continued, "the war
may become so widespread that II
may fall OF its own weight and an
international realization of its fu-
tility.
Background Of War.
III that were to result in a 1ust
and constructive peace, there would
be great compensation for the
world"
AS to the background Of the war.
Mr.. Cox asserted. Il charge directly
and plainly that the United States is
responsible for Hitler"
He explained this claim In this
| fashion:
If the reparations question had
been settled in 1921 or 1922, the Re-
publican form Of government would
have survived in Germany. Inter.
national debts could have been lioui-
dated and there would have been no
foothold for Hitler.
I'm 1922, consulted with leading
statesmen in England, France. Ger
many and italy, and it was apparent
settlement could have been made.
provided the discussions could have
been initiated by the United States
nation which entered the World
War without selfish aims and did not
profit territorially from the Ver-
sailles treaty.
Urged Hoover Be Sent Abroad.
II urged President Harding to send
Herbert Hoover. then a member Of
his cabinet, to Europe for the pur-
pose Of bringing the leaders of the
major nations together at the round
table.
There Is not the slightest doubt
that settlement could have been
reached easily.
But the United States did not
take the initiative, no settlement was
reached and the resultant situation
was made to order for Hitler.
Germany at that time was not
able, to meet its repara-
tions payments and the Nazis came
into power on the pledge to- nav
nothing. The German people accept
ed Hitler because they had every
thing to gain and nothing to lose"
Mr.. Cox. publisher Of leading
Florida and Ohio newspapers for
several years, purchased the journal
late last year.