Evening star., 1943-10-31


SENATOR RUSSELL.
received the American soldiers who are
stationed in their midst. From q mill
tary standpoint, they have displayed
every quality that one could ask in an
ally. The British Tommy is a first-class
soldier Wherever had an opportunity
to visit with our Navy both enlisted men
and officers spoke in glowing terms of
the skill and seamanship and the cour-
age of the British tar. The Royal Navy
is still living up to its finest traditions.
The heroic exploits of the Royal Air
Force already belong to the legends of
this war. AS fighting men they are good
partners to have in scrap.
We had some opportunity to observe
the operation of the British government
not only at home but throughout the
empire. I came home with a healthy
respect bordering on envy for the eff
cheney of the British in administration
and in the handling of their relations
with other nations and in their own vast
dominion. The British have a definite
foreign policy with respect to every cor
ner of the globe. Every civil servant
and every officer Of any rank is appar-
emily fully acquainted with empire pol
icy as 1t applies either militarily, diplo-
matically or commercially. Every &C
ton of the responsible officials of gov
ernment is designed to promote that
policy.
Must Plan Ahead.
If our Nation has a definite policy
which extends longer than six months
after the conclusion of the war in any
of the farfung lands in which Amer
ican troops are fighting and American
dollars are being spent I was unable
to find any one among our officers
abroad who could define it.
We cannot afford to rely upon even
so splendid an ally as the United
Kingdom to protect all our interests,
or there will be inevitable conflict and
confusion after the war. Our civil
agencies abroad are numerous, but too
often they are either working at cross
purposes or, worse to relate, in some
case have no apparent purpose Our
postwar interests are being neglected,
and We stand to get very little or no
return from our immense expenditures
In places our representation abroad
was apparently weak Too many of
our representatives still appear to rely
upon ancient protocol and the easy
ways and flowery terms which have
been in vogue in the past This is a
day of realism as might be expected
when great peoples are fighting for
their very lives Realists are direct
ing this war in the field as we'll as in
places OF power, not only in enemy
lands but among our Allies. We would
do we'll to assume a more realistic atti-
tude. In my opinion all of our civilian
agencies operating outside the United
States should be co-ordinated in the
hands of some two-fsted American
who has an understanding of Ameri-
can interests in all international mat
tiers. The old type of kid-glove diplo-
macy including high-fown but vague
phraseology, does not have any place
in todays international dealings Every
one can understand men like Admiral
Standley, who bluntly speak their minds;
and whatever may have been his
other qualifications I believe that rep
resentatives of his type will create more
respect and genuine good will for the
United States throughout the world
than many OF the men and most of
the methods We are now employing.
Should Check Material.
We should keep closer check on the
expensive tools of war that we are
dealing out on such a gigantic scale
under lease-lend arrangements. In
the Mediterranean area and the Middle
East our British Allies have stressed
the fact that they have given large
quantities of war supplies to Turkey
as very effective propaganda to gain
the good will of the 250,000000 Mo-
hammedans of the world. Much of
this military equipment transferred by
England to Turkey is American-made
and American financed equipment, and
was transferred to England under
Lease-Lend. Every sensible person
realizes that we will not be paid in full
for all of the material of war which
we have advanced to our Allies under
lease-lend. No one really expects it.
In my judgment, it is very poor
policy to permit lease-lend equipment.
paid for by the people of the United
States, to be used to buy good will
even for our closest friend when good
will is such an important commodity.
If it is good business for England to
get credit with Turkey and the friends
OF Turkey for helping that nation IN
times of danger, it would seem to me
to be worth something to the United
States
In like manner some of the equip
ment which is included in the British
transfers to Russia is American-made
or American-bought. American food
handled on lease-lend basis has
likewise BEEN used by the British Food
Commission to feed refugees and other
hungry peoples of the earth, and I
doubt that the recipient is always
aware of the fact that the United
States was the true benefactor.
Holds Americans Sighted.
would be the last to do or say any,
thing which would cause any breach
between our country and our British
Allies. I believe that the future peace of
the world largely depends upon a COM
plete understanding between us. How
ever matters of this kind can surely be
adjusted without disturbing good rela-
tions. No people are perfect, including