Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-02


! domestic. resources and that all
Of our people. particularly those
on the eastern seabOard. are
experiencing n shortage ~
petroleum. Yet the information
was repeatedly conveyed 10 me
that the United States. with less
than 25 per cent of the oil re-
sources of the world, was put
ting mp over 90 per cent Of the
oil being used 10 fight this war.
ct II also noteworthy that at
Abadan, nj the north end Of the
Persian Gulf, II "A vast refinery
which produces 100 Octane gas
Oline. Yet l was told this vast
enterprise is only working at
go per cent of capacity. The
layman finds IL hard In under
stand why western Australia
should not he supplied from this
point instead Of depending upon
the distant and dwindling oil re-
sources Of California.
Second, l inquired into the
overseas operations Of the Of
flee Of War Information. Last
June I took the position that
we should not reduce the
amount for the overseas opera
lions ~ the office of War In
formation. did 80 on the
ground that psychological war
fare is Gan essential weapon of
moderY war.
"I/rbw wonder whether I was
right. The overseas operations
OF dWI can he divided into two
two cstegories. The first is
psychological warfare against
the enemy, which is carried on
in close conjunction with army
and navy intelligence. l under
stand that This il being wei
done and should continue UNI
changed.
DUBIOUS UNDERTAKING
"The second category consists
Of propaganda In friendly for
eign countries. To my mind this
is n very dubious undertaking,
which was certainly never con-
templated by Congress and for
which no Clear-cut executive
policy exists.
~ found the men administer
ing this activity IN he sincere
and honest administrators. But
they were necessarily confused.
'In India, for example, propa-
ganda il made available to the
press In order TO tell the people
of India what the average
American il like. The people OF
India, of course, are interested
I'm what the American thinks
about India. How this brand OF
propaganda contributes to the
war effort Is somewhat a mys-
terry.
I'm Australia mImeographed
material IL sent to editors To
he used as Underground Sena-
members of the press appreciate
the limitless capacity OF the
editorial wastebasket for matter
OF this kind.
Third. ! was able To see the
Allied military government in
operation in Palermo. 1t. Col.
Charles POletti Is coping ener-
geticallv with the many acute
problems.
OPINION OF T.. 8.
con so rapid q trip depend
able information about foreign
opinion is best secured by talk
ing tn Americans who have
lived in the country a long time.
Conversations with these per-
sons led mo to believe that
there IL very little fear abroad
that the United States will not
discharge its international oh
legations or take advantage Of
Its international opportunities.
Insofar as foreign opinion
about the United States Is con-
cerned there seem 10 be two i'm
preSsionS. One Is an expectation
Of gifts and favOrs from the
United States which are far be-
yOnd our capacity 10 confer.
The other Is fear Of the ex-
pansion Of our foreign trade
and of our worldwide aviation.
II WAS again impressed with
the dangers Of reinstatement
and of making promises which
are Impossible Of fulfillment. 1
submit that a clear frank state
ment OF national aims, based on
natiOna Interest and guided nv
Justice, would accomplish more
good for the world and would
cause less hatred and dis
illusionment later on.
Fourth. There is much real
dissatisfaction among our men
abroad with what they conceive
In he the censorship and propa-
ganda policy of the government.
The apparent unwiIlingnesS to
put out information which il not
favorable and laudatOry is COM
pletely out Of tune with the
realistic attitude which our
young men have toward this
war.
Comments which 7 heard
range all the way from criticism
~ the Cigsret advertisements
which always portray field sol
diers as Clean-ShaVen and neatly
pressed. 10 disagreement with
the practice Of portrsying all
our Allies as being perfect. Our
boys know that we are not per
feet: that no one II perfect and
that Our Allies arc not nprfpcf