Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-18
Major Move
Scent Drama
Of 8 Points
For L ofty Principles.
Plan Rivals Wilson's
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

points have already been
thoroughly discussed and will
doubtless continue to be chewed
over for weeks to come. This
column has no desire TO Hoover
ize them further.
Also the spectacular show
manship Of the highly dramatic
setting of the conference at sea
makes il clear that il was
major move in the great inter-
national poker game of the mo-
ment.
In such circumstances il isn't
nice to look over the shoulder
of the player on our side and
make revealing faces about
what kind of a hand it really
is.
AS a statement of lofty princi-
pies il could hardly be excelled
even by Woodrow Wilson's high
minded and unselfish Ia points.
Mr.. Wilson sincerely believed in
his Ia points as Mr.. Roosevelt
doubtless believes in his eight
principles.
The trouble in 1918 and 1919
was that Mr.. Wilson's associates
at Versailles didn't sincerely.
believe in them. They euchered
or bluffed him out Of some Of
them in their entirety, such as
freedom of the seas, and out
of all Of them in part.
They were fenagl led and
twisted 10 disappoint friend
Utaly), foe (the central powerS)
and the promise 10 neutrals-
removal of trade barriers" and
so forth.
THE II points were wonder
i full war propaganda for our
side. Probably the eight points
will be also, but, after that
great, earlier experience. not
quite so effective.
Much has already been read
into them that isn't there
principally that America and
Britain are now mutually
pledged to destroy the Nazi
tyranny"
What was really said was:
after the final destruction of
the Nazi tyranny. they hope to
see established a peace which
will afford TO all nations the
means of dwelling safely within
their own boundaries and which
will afford assurance that all
men in all lands may live out
their lives in freedom from
want and fear"
AS in most of the other seven
points that doesn't specifically
promise anything at all. If il
did promise freedom from
want and fear" it would be al
most ridiculous as an almost
cynically impossible promise.
The vagueness. the lack Of
specification and especially the
lack Of definite promise is. l
think. the most commendable
aspect of this message.
The vast and unexpected
changes that have followed each
other, almost overnight, in this
most unpredictable of all wars
makes any kind of specification
or promise hazardous in the ex-
IRENE.
WHILE il is true hat Wood
w row Wilson'S ii points were
laid down just before the dark
days of March. 1918. there
was more ground for predicting
the eventual outcome of war
than there is today.
Anyway. the ii points were
not promises or predictions
either. They were a concise
statement of the war aims OF
America-what we were fight
ing for, win, lose or draw.
They were timely and proper.
So are the Roosevelt Churchill
eight points, even if they
couldn't be as definite and
precise and even if their very
vagueness is expanded by mis-
Interpretation to mean much
more than the words say.
All this is to say that while
they can't mean much. there
must have been some very
powerful poker-playing reason
to stage this spectacular show
at just this time and to speak
this piece TO the world in just
this way.
Since the words do not COM
NIT us TO anything 10 which Of
fetal utteranceS had not seemed
to commit us before and since
il is highly doubtful whether
the utterance of any single Of
fetal could commit us at all. /
can't see much reason for criti-
cism of the words.
Since The reason for this
gesture was undoubtedly good /
can't see much reason for any
criticism at all.
by King Features Syndicate
Inc. Reproduction in Whole or Par
strictly Prohibited.