Evening star., 1942-04-21

lively recollection OF how public
opinion swung back to isolationism
In 1920 and influenced govern
mental policy for decade, The
possibility that history may repeat
itself Is doubtless governing those
who hesitate TO go along with the
wilIkie faction OF the party. which
believes In an active policy Of in
ternational cooperation after the
war.
During the last war the Repubn-
can party pledged itself to all-out
backing Of the war and the Re-
publican isolationists feel that in
doing this in the present war they
need not go in now for after-the-
war commitments Of international
policy.
Difficult Issue on Stump.
From the standpoint of the in
ternational-minded group. this will
unquestionably open up a far
reaching debate inside the Republi-
can party and naturally will give
the New Deal groups the opportu-
nifty for which they yearn in order
to accuse the Republican party Of
going back to the isolationism OF
the le20s.
This is not a simple issue to
handle on the stump because while
Franklin Roosevelt canpaigned for
the vice presidency in 1920 on a
League of Nations platform, he
abandoned that stand in his pre-
convention campaign Of 1882 for
the presidency. When he was Presi-
dent he did not go along with the
conclusions reached at the London
economic conference Of July. 1888,
and this incident Is often cited as
an example Of lack of international
cooperation that helped plant the
seeds for the economic unrest on
the continent which led to the out
break of the present war in 1889.
From 1888 on, the Roosevelt ad-
ministration occasionally supported
a strong international policy as, for
instance in the famous "euaran-
tine speech made by the President
In Chicago, but there can be no
doubt that it was not till 1888 that
the administration began to throw
aside all vestiges of isolationism.
Prevailing Sentiment in 2os.
Looking back at the 1918 and 1920
elections, the issue of international
policy was not clearly presented on
either occasion. The 1918 battle cry
of the Republicans was one OF re-
sentiment against alleged implica-
tions Of diSloyalty leveled at them in
Mr.. Wilson'S famous appeal for a
vote of confidence. The 1920 cam
paign, moreover. saw such eminent
figures as Charles Evans Hughes,
Ehhu Root and William Howard
Taft telling their fellow Republicans
that a vote for Warren Harding was
a vote for american entry into the
League Of Nations with reservations.
After the election PreSident-elect
Harding chose TO construe the YER
dict as a repudiation of the pro-
League groups IN the party and he
helped TO soothe the wounds of the
party by selecting Mr.. Hughes as
Secretary of State. When Mr.. Cool
tdge succeeded Mr.. Harding, he also
adopted the isolationist position as
q definite commitment of his party
and this sentiment pervaded both
Republican and Democratic parties
for decade or more thereafter,
What went on in Chicago at
the Republican gathering, therefore.
may make sharp divisions now, but
he would be a bold political leader
who attempts to predict now what
the American people will want to Go
about foreign policy when the war
is over, And yet Mr.. Wilkes
chances for leadership in 1914 de-
pend on how he fares ultimately
with exactly that question.
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