Evening star., 1943-08-22
US. Alone Among Great Powers
In Lacking Fixed Foreign Policy
BY Constantine Bro,cn.

ments is purely Britannia. The Euro
pean tyrant of the 18th and 18th GEN.
turies, Napoleon Bonaparte, was de-
stroyed by Britain not because he was
tyrant but because his power menaced
the Empire.
The foreign policies Of Germany were
established in the 18th century by the
Prussian King, Frederick the Great.
They we're based then, as they are today,
on the "Lebensraum" cry. 1t was that
little King who caused the partition OF
Poland in order to afford Prussia her
first important expansion His dreams
and hopes were put actually into effect
by Prince Herbert Bismark In 1871 when
France was defeated and the German
Empire was established
From that time on Germany has been
trying to expand at the expense of her
neighbors and particularly at the expense
OF the Queen of the Seas, Great Britain.
The German people have been indoc-
trinated by all kind OF means with tina
LebensraIm idea which became the
Reich's national policy.
Even the smaller European states. par
tcularly in Central and Southeastern
Europe, have followed pattern of terri.
torial, expansion. They all had definite
foreign policies which became part and
parcel Of their national policies.
Gave Land to Natives.
Not so IN this country. After we OBJ
tanned our independence the people of
this country and The millions which
poured into it developed the enormous
resources of the Nation.
The wars We fought in the 18th GEN.
tury were necessary for the consolidation
OF the continent. When we could not
purchase essentially American territories
within our national limits we fought for
ana conquered them But when they did
not involve our national boundaries, we
created new independent States.
After the war with Spain we elm
mated the Spaniards from Cuba and the
philippines. Had Spain been defeated
40 years ago by a European nation
there is no question that Cuba and the
Philippines would now have been coil
onies, or, at the best, dominions. We
gave them back to their own people.
The people Of this country are not
mperialistically minded. They COM
PEELED the government to give Cuba her
immediate independence and within tvo
score years the administration was
forced to do the same for the ph;lin-
pines. This was our national policy and
the trainers of foreign policy had 10
follow the desires of the Nation.
because we have no inhibitions and
desire for territorial expansion like ths
oioer countries, we are improvising a
foreign policy to suit certain circum-
stances
The unbelievable crimes of Hitler
Mussolini and Hirohito have created an
atmosphere in this country which made
our participation in this war inevitabIs
Inc acceptance OF our becoming involved
IN the war regardless OF its economic and
social consequences was due to an emo
tional feeling rather than to the realiza.
zion that If the Western democracies
were defeated our own life might become
Jeopardized. It was more or less the
same sentiment which threw us into fbe
World War.
No Alliance Suggested.
But at no time did the American Cow
sernment even suggest that we become IN.
VOWED IN long-term alliances az ha.
oeen the case among the other powers
Britain signed 20-year alliance with
the Soviet government soon after Russ,a
switched from her agreements with the
Na1s. Not only have we not signed an
alnance even for shorter duration with
MOSCOW but no American Government
would venture to suggest an alliance
win Britain who Is much closer to lis
In tlme OF war when emotions are of
tnelr highest peak and wishful THINKING
Is IN 1un swing, groups of high-minded
cltlzens espouse the idea that We must
nave definite role in the concert of
world powers. They believe firmly that
americas adherence to pacts or agree
ments might prevent wars in the future
Inc people in this country listen tn
tnese elaborate arguments based on facts
and demonstrations of what has han
pened to the world because, for instance,
we rejected "our international RESPONSE
ollltles" after the last war. MANY believe
we have been wrong and that Americas
role Is to associate herself with the
powers alongside which she is fighting
But soon after the bloodshed is over and
the inevitable chickering's for territorial
advantages are again in full swing-re
gardless OF how they are presented to the
American people-the swing toward An
attitude of Tets mind our own business"
becomes strong again and what so manv
people describe as Americas isola
again becomes popular.
There may be some good reasons Tn
believe that after the present war the
no foreign entanglements" doctrine may
be revised. But it is difficult to conceive
that it will.
When Hitler and Hirohito have been
destroyed and the war is ended every one
OF our partners will obtain something"
The map of the world will be made over
Geographic boundaries will be changed
But nothing will come to the United
States because we want nothing.
Some Talk Of Bases.
There are some people in and outside
Congress who talk about bases for the
future. They would like this Government
to insist on obtaining strategic Islands. It
is hardly conceivable that the people
will stand by them.
Our friends the British are somewhat
alarmed at what they describe as the new
economic Imperialism of the United
States.