The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-02-06

ledQdCue over llt Il0SlGSll us
patch Of another missionary of the
same sort Irresponsible to himself
alone) TO Asia.
This newest emissary is Lauchlin
Currie. formerly an economist con-
nected with the Federal Reserve
board. but more recently one of f.
D. RS executive assistants. with
a passion for anonymity" He's
bound for Chungkins, to confer
with Chinese Generaissimo Chang
Kai-shek and to size up the Orien-
tai war situation generally.
The isolationists agree that it's
quite natural for the White House
to want all possible information as
to the progress Of the Jap-Chinese
conflict. But why, they anXiously
inquire, can't it keep itself fully
posted by a careful reading of AM
bassador Nelson Johnson's reports?
He's an experienced diplomat a
capable observer, an expert on the
subject Of Far Eastern affairs and
already knows more about the
present Jap-Chinese status than
Lauchlin Currie is likely to be able
to find out in hurry.
IsolationlstS Suspicious
The conclusion the perturbed iso-
lationists draw is that F. d. r.
must have in mind some policy
that he doesn't want to reveal I'M
til he gets it irrevocably a-work-
ing. Probably. reason the isoia-
tionists, he couldn't keep his scheme
secret If he tried to promote it in
cooperation with Ambassador
Johnson, because Johnson's job is
oficial Of whatever he does, says
or arranges there's a more or less
public record, An unofficial White
House representative, however, say
the isolationists, can keep the con-
templated program, II any, pro-
foundly quiet until it's completely
formulated and in at least initial
operation, when the isolationists
surmise that it will be too late
for them to object, provided they
don't like the looks Of it.
They don't believe they will like
it, either. Anyway, they want to
understand it fully in advance;
they don't want it sprung on them
suddenly.
Oh, yes, the isolationists, like
the most OF us. sympathize with
China. But, sympathy and all, the
fact remains that they're ISOLA-
TIONISTS-in capital letters, for
the sake of emphasis. KEEP US
OUT OF WAR" is their motto.
Aid short Of war" is all right with
'em, but not a fraction Of an inch
beyond staying short of it. If they
can prevent it. they don't propose
to permit even the slightest step
TO be taken in warlike direction
in the direction Of a war with
Japan any more than in the direc-
ton OF war against the European
end Of the Axis.
The Chinese embassy in Wash
ington, by the way, says it under
stands Lauchlin Currie is going to
Chungking officially. not In presi-
dentially personal capacity.
The Chinese embassy. though,
prefers to, think so. because if his
missions official, that makes it all
the more binding. and the Chinese
naturally would be tiekied pink to
have us at war with Japan on their
side.
Strictly Unofficial
Anyhow. the White House an
nouncement of .Currie's selection
for the visit didn't represent it as
an official trip. And it's hard to
see how il could be, considering
that Nelson johnson remains on
his cmbassadorial job And, be-
sides, Currie couldn't go, under Of
fetal appointment. without con-
gressional confirmation. which has
not been so much as asked for.
Perhaps I've somewhat over
emphasized the isoiationists. They
are the noisiest critics certainly.
but they're not the only members
Of congress who find fault with
personal presidential diplomatic
representation abroad.
There are good many legisla.
tors that are not particularly iso-
lationistic, who object to quite so
much executive secrecy-in the mat
ter Of our foreign relationships at
the exciting critical juncture. Con-
stitutionally, TO be sure, MANAGE