Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-30

IMAM conqueror.
Appa rem ly David Lawrence.
both Prime Minister Churchill and
President Roosevelt have deter
mined to adopt, publicly at least, the
defiant and swash-buckling phrases
of political oratory while the Allied
commander in chief, Gen, Essen
hover, issues the practical, concilia-
tory and statesmanlike pronounce
ment to the Italian people which
might better have come from the
heads of the British and American
governments.
II the purpose of Messrs. Church
Ill and Roosevelt is to invite the
liberated Italian people to become
a potential ally-to be comrades in
arms under the banner of democ-
racy and the four freedoms
reiterated demand for "uncondi-
tional surrender" has a hollow
sound. 1t fits better with the con-
cept of subjugation of an enemy
rather than with the Idea of OBJ
tanning active aid and whole heart
ed cooperation, especially in the
many delicate military situations in
the Balkans that revolve around aid
to us from Italy.
Words for the Military.
No people like to be told in 50
many words that they must lay
down their arms and do the bidding
Of an occupying army, but when
these words must be spoken-and in
this case they are essential from a
military viewpoint-then it is far
better for such humilia ting words
to be formally presented by military
commanders rather than by the
President or the Prime Minister.
The situation in 1918, when Presi-
dent Wilson asked for unconditional
surrender and an acceptance of his
terms for an armistice, was quite
different, since we were in the midst
OF war but at the end of the fighting
with our principal enemy. In the
ease of Italy. it has been generally
supposed that we need Italys CO.
operation and that it is conceivable
Italian divisions might at any mo-
ment be turning on the Nazi divi-
sions.
Italians. according to Allied prop
uganda, have been friendly to us
from the start and have fought on
the side OF the Axis only because a
Fascist dictatorship compelled them
to do so. If this thesis is incorrect,
then there may have been reasons
for the Churchill Roosevelt ap-
proach. II, on the other hand, it is
still our purpose not merely to oc-
cupy Italy but to win the enthusi-
astic support and friendship of the
Italian people, then the Roosevelt
Churchill announcements are a
disappointing and disheartening ex-
ample of the lack of vision in the
craftsmanship on the Allied side.
Reelection Bid Seen.
The Presidents mistake in iudg-
ment in using so important an oc-
easion to make campaign speech
to men in the armed services. fol-
lowing the tactics he has used since
1888 in winning votes by offering
sums from the public treasury, will
not soon be forgotten, for it will
bring, as it already has from men,
bers of Congress, the unfortunate
accusation that he has begun his
campaign for reelection for q
fourth term.
From his own standpoint. and
considering politics only. the Presi-
dent stole march on his political
opponents by getting program
ready for rehabilitation, but II
will always be questioned whether
the predominance of self-interes.
In that speech will not be perceived
by listeners even in the armed serv-
ices and thus detract from Its po-
ltical effectiveness.
There Is still no better rule for
conduct In public life than to deal
In implicit rather than explicit 10
litics. If Mr.. Roosevelt's leadership
is satisfactory on the broad issues
Of finishing the war successfully
and making sensible peace, he
will never need to offer subsidies to
returning soldiers or to anyone else
as a means Of emphasizing the merit
of his administration or to obtain
vindication for his course in his
tory.
There are many crises ahead and
many delicate stages through which
the world must pass before the will
to peace breaks down military re-
sistance against us, and If the
Churchill Roosevelt Chauvinism IL
all that the United Nations can offer
=" humanity crying out for an
enlightened idealism. then the 80
called era Of peace may Be indefi
nleely postponed till new leadership
N rune with the aspirations Of peo-
pies everywhere. may emerge to In.
serpret the true wishes of mankind
Ueproduetion Rishts Res.rved)