Evening star., 1940-07-07
Appeosement Seen
as VituI Issue
By ODen L. Scott.

coming campaign will concern foreign
policy. The most difficult question of
foreign policy will be whether to appease
or not to appease victorious Hitler in
Europe and an expanding Japan in Asia.
President Roosevelt is guiding the
Democratic party toward definite pol
Icy Of non-appeasement. The President
is determined not to recognize German
conquests in Europe. He is equally de-
termined not to play along with Japan
in the Far East even though unable ef-
fectively to oppose the Japanese ex-
pansion at this time. Mr. Roosevelt is
prepared to battle against German trade
penetration into Latin America, if ac-
companied by political penetration, and
to balk at German overtures for large
gold loans from the United States to pay
for reconstruction" of Europe He plans
vast armament program here to pre-
pare for an eventual showdown.
In other words, Mr. Roosevelt is de-
termined that the United States, wedged
in between powerful Germany and
powerful Japan-both expanding by con-
quest-shall not allow itself to become
second-class power, unable or unwill-
ing to defend Its primary interests
against the encroachments of the ex-
panding nations in Europe and Asia.
There appears to be little question that
the United States If it desires to con-
tinue to be a first-class power, able to
shape its own destiny will be forced,
sooner or later, to fight for that privilege.
Wendell WILKES position on these
questions of basic policy is not clear. He,
too, processes to be for large-scale de-
Tense He is opposed to having Hitler
or another dictator attack the United
States. But, on the basis of his public
expressions, he believes that a President
should not lead the Nation in foreign
policy If that leadership takes the coun-
try toward war. The Republican nomi-
nee feels instead that the President
should be pushed by public sentiment.
This raises the question of whether the
masses of people are capable of deter
mining, by instinct, when vital national
interests are jeopardized by a foreign
power, and whether they will be inclined
10 push President into war if those in
terests are jeopardized. 1t may be that
a people, without leadership, will accept
secondary position in the world with
out knowing what it means.
- -
such, at least, is the line of thinking
here. That thinking goes on to other
questions that will have to be answered
by the presidential candidates in 1910.
One question concerns how far the
United States should go in trading with
a Europe that is under Hitler control.
Germany's trade methods will largely
shut American goods out of Europe be-
cause OF the difficulty of arranging oar-
ter deals that will not prove politically
impossible inside the United States. The
Germans propose that this country, to
Keep its European markets, should
loan large amounts of gold to the ma =
tions OF Europe which those nations then
can use to pay for American goods They
also want this country to accept the
gold. which Germany obtained by con-
quest. in payment for goods. The net
effect of the first operation would be to
make a gift to the Germans of those
American products that the Germans
need in any preparation to wage war in
the Western Hemisphere-bothe economic
and military
Some businessmen already are listen
ing with interest to these feelers put out
by Germany and are inclined to go along
with trade on this basis. Mr.. Roosevelt
is strongly opposed to this or any other
type of trade deal with Hitler that does
not result in fair return for the Amer
ican goods exchanged Mr.. Willkie has
not yet expressed himself on this ques-
ton.
A second question concerns national
defense. President Roosevelt is outlining
defense plans that will provide an Army
and Navy competent to defend this
hemisphere against any opposing COM
bination. These plans entail huge OUT
lay of funds-a minimum of $4,000.
600, 900 year. The same plans call for
universal service for the youth of the
country and for gearing of American
industry to something near to an arma-
ment basis. This is the price that is
required for determination to maintain
the United States in the running as
first-class power. Added to other costs
of government, it will mean a total Fed
eral Government budget of about ST..
600, 100000. That, in turn, will involve
greatly increased taxes and a greatly
increased effort on the part OF the
people.
1t is not known, as yet, how Mr.. Will
kie feels about an armament program
of this size
The Republican party, however, is on
record as favoring less Government
activity and there is great emphasis
upon bringing the Federal Government
near to balance. Yet the clear fact is
that if the United States is to guard
this hemisphere and to arm for that
purpose there must be vast extension
of governmental activity and greatly
increased direction of business and
finance by Government. This country
will be humping against totalitarian ma
tions in which government exercises a
monopoly of foreign trade and main
tain absolute control over money and
investments, as well as over many prices.