Evening star., 1940-03-30

able service. 1t was a difficult and
delicate mission. Not only was it
part of his task to find out how the
British and French felt about peace
but it was important for him to
gain some first-hand impressions
Of what was happening in Germany
One direct consequence of Mr.
Welles' visit may be the sending of
an American Ambassador and full
staff to Berlin. A continuous flow
of information from Germany to
the United States is essential to
any future peace moves.
1t is safe assumption that the
President and Secretary Hull are
better informed today about what is
happening inside Germany than
they were before Mr.. Weles went
there. 1t is safe assumption, too.
that the United States Government
has a better understanding of what
may be done some day in the area
Of peace making than it had before
Mr.. Welles left Washington.
Has Facts To Study.
Naturally the President felt it
essential to announce something to
the press Immediately on Mr.. Welles'
return and 1t was desirable to
eliminate at once any belief that a
peace offer had been rendered or
received. But the object of the
Welles mission was to gather in
formation on which future peace
move might be made and what to
do with this information. is now up
to the President and the Secretary
of State to decide. upon the advice
of Mr.. Welles.
The net results of the mission
may not be known for weeks or
months. Certainly an improvement
in the diplomatic relations of the
United States and Germany may be
looked for. Likewise, a studied pol
Icy of less comment on the issues
involved in the war may be forth
coming as one means of preventing
the recurrence of irritation between
Germany and the United States at
Berlin and Washington.
If the United States Government
Is to prepare itself for the task of
mediation some day, it will want
to earn the confidence of both sides
in the war. Clearly, the American
people have their sympathies. but
governments are faced with the ne
cessitv of dealing with all other
governments throughout the world
on a formal, business basis.
Another Journey May Follow.
Mr., Welles. back at his desk in
the State Department., will be a
much more valuable Undersecretary
than he was before he embarked on
his mission. He will retain impress
eions obtained in his talks. He will
become an invaluable adviser to the
President and the Secretary of State
and it would not be at all surprising
If, during the summer months. he
made another journey to Europe to
make similar survey.
AS the leading neutral in the
world. the United States has re-
sponsibillty toward peace-making
that cannot be underestimated. This
Goes not mean involvement or dlrect
or indirect participation in Europes
quarrels, but realistic attitude to-
ward the thousand and one eco
nomic questions that arise out of
war and which will become even
more serious when peace really
approaches.
The presidential statement that
there is nothing ahead now in the
way of peace-making will seem dis
couraging on its face, but expert
enced observers will not take it too
literally. What the President needs
now is time to ponder carefully the
data brought by Mr.. Welles and to
formulate program of American
policy as it may affect the war for
the moment, but peacemaking in
the ultimate sense.