The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-07-24
The Problem Of Promises
Washington, July 10.

Washington, July 10.
It is true that as far as he has gone
and he has gone pretty far-the
President has the support of large
majority Of the people in the foreign
policy he has evolved and in the steps
he has taken to implement that policy.
Every test Of public opinion shows
that. The response from press, people
and Congress has been rcassuring and
convincing.
But soon he must go farther. No in
formed person, whether favoring or
opposed, thinks the Iceland occupation
is our final move. In the course we
have elected to follow one step mex
orally follows the other. They con-
stitute a sequence and a series, lead
ing straight to the end-full partici
patton in the fight to defeat Hitler.
No matter how it may be disguised,
that is the fact. However compelling
the Presidential necessity not to state
this, nothing else reconciles our policy
with reason. No one around Mr.. Roose-
welt has any other idea No one near
him expects US to stop with Iceland.
The next step-whatever it may be
is inevitable. 1t is even now being con-
templated. If the Germans speedily
conquer the Russians it probably will
be accelerated. If the Russian resist
ance continues effectively it will be
timed for d later period. But that an
other means of making our weight eff
fective against the German forces soon
will be found-and used-can be ac-
copied.
Like the steps we have taken, the
next will be justified as essential for
defense. On the theory that the ex-
istence of Europe dominated by Hit
Ter is threat to our independence and
security, anything we do, including
shooting, can be regarded as defen-
sive. But, soon or late, the time will
come when full frankness with the
people upon the part Of the President
becomes imperative-that is, if he is
to be supported in the last steps by
the kind of national unity indispens-
able to last steps. 1t would be unfor-
tunate, indeed, to have to take the
last step, if it meant loss of conf
dence in him by any considerable
number of people who have trusted
him.
And that is exactly what will hap
pen if he continues steadfastly toward
the inevitable end, while ignoring the
personal promises which assured the
country we should never reach that
end. Some of these promises already
have been broken. Senator Taft, in
the Senate last week, enumerated
them. Others have done and will do
so. They were contained not only in
the Democratic platform, which the
President dictated, and in the Lend
Lease bill, but were reiterated in his
own speeches. He denounced those who
suggested that any armed forces
would be sent outside our borders and
repeatedly voiced his determination to
keep the United States out Of war.
There is no use discussing whether
these pledges We're political or whether
it was necessary to make them. The
point is they were made and now,
when as Mr.. Turner Catledge wrote in
the New York Times, "the only sure
way this country has of keeping out of
the actual fray is for peace to be re-
stored quickly in Europe, and no one
seriously entertains the notion that
that is possible" these pledges
are embarrassing. Something has got
to be done about them. There are still
too many people who believe that Mr..
Roosevelt can and will make them
good There is too much likelihood of
an unfavorable reaction when the dis
covery is made that they do not hold.
m#m
Of course, there is but one thing to
do about them and that is to be COM
pletely candid. The President himself
should point out that when these
promises were made he was deeply
convinced they could be carried out
and that he has done his utmost to
carry them out. No fair man, however
opposed to him, will question his sin
certify on this score-unless Mr.. Roose-
welt chooses to continue taking the
steps sure to lead to war, while still
encouraging people to believe that we
are not going to participate in the war
unless attacked.
###
The whole murky national atmos
phere can be cleared and his domestic
foes disarmed by stating with perfect
frankness that unforeseen events have
made the rigid adherence to these
promises dangerous to the United
States; that for the safety of the
country and the success of the course
to which we are committed it is no
longer wise to be bound by them; that,
therefore, while still hopeful for peace
and anxin11s NOT To enter the WAY he