Evening star., 1941-01-12
RepudiatiOn of IsOlatiOnism Is
Keystone of Roosevelt Message
Speech to Congress Was Timed to Bolster
the Balkans Against Nazis and Stfen
British Resistance to Attack
By Felix Morley.

to many will seem far-fetched, such as
the statement that "the future of all the
American republics is today in serious
danger from Nazi aggression. Never
theless, in the delicate balance created
by Italy's increasing difficulties, Mr..
Roosevelt has placed an effective weight.
Although neither Yugoslavia nor Bull
garia was mentioned in the message to
Congress, both of these countries are
more resistant to German pressure be-
cause of it.
Contrasting Excerpts.
This speech contained no carefully
formulated doctrine comparable to that
enunciated by President Monroe in his
annual message of December 2, 1923. But
its historic importance is not unlikely
to prove as great And in large measure
that is because President Roosevelt last
Monday tacitly repudiated a funda-
mental part of the Monroe Doctrine, as
may be seen by contrasting excerpts
from the two messages.
Said President Monroe to Congress on
December 2, 1923: I'm the wars of the
European powers in matters relating to
themselves we have never taken any
part, nor does it comport with our policy
so to do"
Said President Roosevelt to Congress
on January 6, 1941: I'VE are committed
to the proposition that principles of
morality and considerations for our
t, will r,ory,oit II IN
acquiesce in a peace dictated by ag-
gressors and sponsored by appeasers."
Said President Monroe on December
2. 1923: Our policy in regard to Europe,
which was adopted at an early stage of
the wars which have so long agitated
that quarter of the globe E. Is not to
interfere in the internal concerns of
any of its powers; to consider the Gov
ernment de facto as the legitimate gov
ernment for us"
Said President Roosevelt on January
6, 194l: I'VE will not be intimidated by
the threats of dictators that they will re-
gard as a breach of international law or
as an act of war our aid to the de-
mocracies which dare to resist their
aggression"
Psychological Moment.
The formal reputation of isolationism,
which was the keynote of President
Roosevelt's message last Monday was
overdue. 1t would take little argument
to show that the conditions which made
the original form of the Monroe Doctrine
logical in 1923 have altered to conditions
which make it wholly illogical in l94l.
Similarly, it can be argued, and, indeed,
was strongly intimated by Mr.. Roose-
welt, that the present policy of inter-
vention is a necessary outgrowth of our
traditional policy of hemisphere defense
Moreover, as indicated at the start Of
this article, the new policy of active
intervention, as opposed to passive de-
fense, is launched at the psychological
moment. 1t was timed as carefully as
Winston Churchill's recent broadcast
to the Italian people, to be of maximum
effect in forwarding italian disintegra-
tion, in bolstering Southeastern Europe
against the Nazis and in stiffening Brit
ish resistance to the merciless German
attack on the heart of that empire.
But, while fortnight and timely the
Presidents historic message last Monday
remains incomplete. Intervention to de-
termine the outcome of European war
is not enough. That was tried in 1917,
and the current budget estimates alone
attest the demonstrated futility of enter
ing European war and then withdraw
ing from the subsequent peace.
The Treaty of Versailles, said President
Roosevelt on Monday, had "imperfec-
tions," but was "far less unjust" than
that which Hitler now seeks to establish.
BY this comparison, and by his compre-
hensive reputation of isolationism, the
President goes far to commit this coun-
try to full participation in the peace
which must eventually be arranged for
shattered Europe.
The character of that peace, and the
continuing official part of the United
States therein, will require much more
careful definition than the vague con-
ception of a new world order sketched
in generalities by Mr. Roosevelt at the
close of his message last Monday.