Evening star., 1943-09-14
Foreign Policy Report

In his discussion of this country's
foreign policy Sunday night, Secre-
tary of State Hull did not reveal any,
thing startling, nor did he advance
any sensational proposals. But he
did outline for us the role which he
believes the United States should
play In the postwar world, and he
did it in thoroughly statesmanlike
fashion.
Mr.. Hull began with the PROPOSE
ton that the foreign policy of this
country, or of any country, must be
expressive Of the nations funda-
mental interests. Thus, we must
first understand what our true ma
tional interests are, and then how
we may best promote and protect
them.
AT the moment our primary in
terest IS to win the war. Beyond
final victory, however, in Mr.. Hull's
words, "our fundamental national
interests areas. they have always
been-the assuring of our national
security and the fostering OF the
economic and social well being of
our people" These, broadly, will be
our main postwar objectives. To
attain them, Mr.. Hull says, we must
be prepared and willing to work
with other nations in some form OF
international organization. And to
that he adds: 1T is abundantly clear
that a system Of organized interra-
tional cooperation for the mainte-
nance of peace must be based upon
the willingness OF the cooperating
nations to use force, II necessary, to
keep the peace. There must be GER
tainty that adequate and appro-
pirate means are available and will
be used for this purpose.
This, in substance, Is identical with
the nonpartisan resolution pending
in the Senate, which already has
been indorsed by Vice President
Wallace. And it is not far apart
from the tenor of the statement of
policy adopted by the Republicans
at Mackinac Island.
The ultimate solution, OF course,
is not going to be as easy as it may
sound on paper. One Of the great
diff1culties will arise in reconciling
the conceded right of sovereign peo-
pies to choose their own govern
ments with the necessity Of inter-
vening when any government may
threaten to disturb the peace of the
world. AS Mr.. Hull pointed out. and
as all Of us have observed in our own
experience, nations too often are in
clined to drift into catastrophe
through failure, until too late, to
recognize the dangers which con-
front them and to take the meas
ures necessary to ward of those dan
gers. Beyond any doubt, this war Is
traceable to that human failing, and
II future wars are to be avoided the
people of the world as well as their
governments will have to be con-
stantly alert to this danger.
Such matters as these, however,
present problems of detail that can
be worked out If the will to work
them out exists. And there is sound
basis for the belief that the people
| OF this country will be disposed to
cooperate with other nations in
working out solution for all of
these problems If they are assured
OF an appropriate regard for the
protection of our own essential ma
tional interests and If they are salts
Ned that the methods proposed are
sane and honorable. The preliminary
outline which Secretary Hull has
given of his program contains these
assurances, and he has good reason
to feel confident that the people of
the United States will sympatheti-
cally await the more detailed state
ments which he has promised for the
future.