Evening star., 1941-08-03

Is less apparent. DuC none tne less I'M
portant is the loss of constructive ma
tional influence which is involved in the
progressive substitution Of propaganda
and its concomitant bitterness for the
dispassionate long range thinking about
the future in which a non-belligerent
nation might properly be expected to
engage.
OF course. internal dissension cannot
deprive the United States of its enormous
influence in the modern world. The
actual economic and potential military
power of this country is so great that
its course will place decisive weight in
any international balance And this will
be true whether we act or fail TO act in
any particular issue.
But diSSenSion can again easily pre-
vent the United States from exerting
its great influence for the good Of itself
and of civilization. as was the case when
We refused to enter the League Of Ma
tions and, as member, convert it into
a dynamic international organization
for the elimination of the seeds of war.
Fall Back m Phrases.
AbNNAA4oA DANhNl AAiSof NOllbNolll
ton to exaggerated propa gsnda. re-
iterated misgivings as to the ability Of
the United States to stand on its own
feet combine TO produce another un-
fortunate consequence. There seems to
be less and less attempt to give any in
telligent analysis to the underlying
meaning Of the present cosmic upheaval
One may read even the best of our
current periodicals from cover to cover
and find little indication that the present
war is anything more complex than a
struggle for domination between rival
theological groups. The greatest political
and social upheavaI since the French
Revolution, certain to bring the most
profound changes whatever the military
outcome, is treated in our contemporary
prints as a simple conflict between de-
mocracy and dictatorship between en-
ightenment and barbarism. between
good and evil
We would not make the similar srro-
CANT mistake of oversimplifcation in
handling the psychology of a 6-year-old
child.
Yet, for all who are not villfulls
blind, a certain pattern of political evo-
luton is becoming clear and some Of the
outline of the shape of things to come"
is taking shadowy form. A measure of
definite crystallization has been pro-
duced by two years of war, superimposed
on the armistice of l9l8-1939 If the
war should last 10 years longer it seems
unlikely that the basic formation now
discernible would be eliminated. More
probably, it would be strengthened.
Future of Russia Uncertain.
Continuation of the self-governing
sections of the British Empire as uni
fed political body working more and
more comparatively with the United
States is one of these foreShadowed out
comes. Subordination of the rampant
nationalisms of Central and Eastern
Europe to the organizing genius Of Ger
many is another. Amplification of the
power of Japan in the Far East, not
necessarily at the expense of China, is
third probability. The dominance Of
the United States in the Western Hem
iSphere is q fourth.
SilAS &C " tlA- VI INuSNld. IlON
being decided on the field of battle, Is
there a large measure of uncertainty.
But the vitality of this great people
makes it improbable that a nation
which has endured so much can now be
permanently relegated to political i'm
potence.
In place of the patchwork of jealous
little nations, as out of date today as
were the 365 separate principalities of
Germany in Napoleon's time. great
regional combinations. more represent
ative of the economic integration of the
modern world are being hammered out.
Continued fighting cannot reverse this
trend. Indeed, its suicidal destruction
can only make re-establishment of the
pre-war pattern ever less likely.
In this world of the future the role OF
America will be great Opportunities
for leadership will be spacious enough
to satisfy the most ardent. But these
opportunities will not be grasped unless
We realize that great changes are at
hand and that change is not necessarily
halted because it always implies a GER
tain unpleasant dislocation of the status
quo.