Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-10-01

of our people, particularly those
ON the eastern seabOsrd. are
experiencing a shortage OF
petroleum. Yet the information
was repeatedly conveyed To me
that the United States, with less
than % per cent of the oil re-
sources of the world. was put
ting up over 60 per cent of the
oil being used to fight this war.
cit Is also noteworthy that at
Abadan, mt the north end of the
Persian Gulf, is vast refinery
which produces 100 octane gas
Oline. Yet 1 was told this vast
enterprise is only working at
60 per cent Of capacity. The
Iayman finds il hard To 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 l took the position that
We should not reduce the
amount for the overseas opera
1innS of the Office of War In
formation. did so on the
ground that psychological war
fare is an essential weapon of
modern war.
~ now wonder whether i was
right. The overseas operations
of owl can be divided into two
two categOries. The first is
psychological warfare against
the enemy, which is carried on
In close conjunction with army
and navy intelligence. 1 under
stand that this is being well
done and should continue un-
changed.
DUBIOUS UNDERTAKING
"The second category consists
of propaganda in friendly for
eign countries. To my mind this
is "A very dubious undertaking,
which was certainly never con-
tempiated by Congress and for
which no Clear-cut executive
policy exists.
81 found the men administer
ing this activity to be sincere
and honest administrators. But
they were necessarily confused.
I'm India, for example, propa-
ganda is made available to the
press i'm order to tell the people
of India what the average
American is 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 is sent TO editors to
he used as background Sena-
tors who have been working
members of the press appreciate
the Iimitless 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-
getically with the many acute
problems.
OPINION OF U. 9.
ION 80 rapid trip depend
able information about foreign
opinion is best secured by talk
Ing to Americans who have
lived in the country a long time.
Conversations with these per-
sons led me to believe that
there Is very little fear abroad
that the United states will not
discharge its international OBJ
legations or take advantage OF
Its international opportunities.
Insofar as foreign opinion
about the United States is con-
cerned there seem TO be two inn
pressiOns. One Is an expectation
OF gifts and favOrs from the
United States which are far be-
yOnd our capacity to 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 over-statement
and OF making promises which
are impossible OF fulfillment.
submit that a clear frank state
ment Of national aims, based on
natiOna Interest and guided by
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
90 be the censorship and propa-
ganda policy OF the government.
The apparent unwilllngness to
put out information which is not
favorable and laudatory Is COM
pletely out of tune with the
realistic attitude which our
young men have toward this
war.
Comments which heard
range all the way from criticism
Of the cigaret advertisements
which always portray field sol
diers as clean-shaven and neatly
pressed, to disagreement with
the practice Of pOrtraylng all
our Allies a. being perfect. Our
boys know that we are not per-
feet; that no one Is perfect and
that our Allies are not perfect
either.