Evening star., 1943-10-23


but there is plenty of criticism of
the American attitude, which is de-
scribed as ranging all the way from
careleSsneSS in the matter of keep
ing records to an indifference to al
locations of raw materials which
can be better supplied from over
seas sources than from our own.
In due time our congressional
committees will make their reports
on these subjects and the critl-
cism will not be centered on the
British h-o or any other foreign gov
ernment 1t is most unfortunate
that emphasis of that kind has been
given to the reports of the return
ing Senators.
What basically is involved is d
difference of viewpoint here and
in Britain toward business abroad
The British government, for in
stances, believes in encouraging and
upholding British CONNER
throughout the world. The United
Kingdom must have world trade.
and it is of paramount interest
that shipping and trade routes be
developed to the most profitable
point possible. Hence the British
lnstinctively think in terms of trade
and postwar uses of wartime ia
cilitieS.
New Deal Course Differs.
The American Government, OH
the other hand, particularly under
the New Deal, takes just the op-
posite course. The present admin
iStration has carried on a crusade
against business and businessmen.
The Vice President of the United
States is an example Of the New
Deal habit of devoting time even
during a major war to cruSade3
which tend to undermine confidence
in the private enterprise system
and to propagandize instead Sys-
TEN of government ownership or
control.
The administration here started
during the present war cam
paign against American participa-
ton in foreign CartelS. The recent
smear upon the oil companies
which had made agreements to
share trade in the foreign field in
preWar days and even in days to
follow the war is an example Of
the administrations point of view.
Yet that very type of contract is
quite common in Britain and the
British will be making cartel ar
rangements everywhere after the
war whenever they can.
The administrators idea plays
into the hands of British CONNER
cial interests American business is
to be kept from participation in
agreements for the handling Of
trade outside the United States.
and consequently the British will
be able to step in and obtain this
opportunity lost for American pro-
ducers.
The same thing may happen with
respect to airplane routes, air bases
and ports for shipping. Because the
Roosevelt administration does not
believe in upholding the interests
of American business abroad-it has
already scuttled American investors
in Central and South America and
permitted conflscation of American
property-it is quite natural for the
British to begin to think in terms
of the far-fung opportunities which
will be forfeited by America.
Hypothetical Question.
Not long ago in a discussion with
some naval experts, the hypothet-
iCal question of what to do about
certain islands in the Pacific arose
The British viewpoint, it was Sug-
geSted, would be that since America
is not an imperialiStic nation. the
islands needed for our defense in
the far Pacific should not be an
neXed by us. but that since the
British are admittedly imperialistic. =.
1t would be proper for England to
acquire all such islands.
This illustrates the divergent
views which have hitherto prevailed
England looks for business oppor-
tunities and the upbuilding of her
commerce. Americas New Dealers
look for opportunities to demolish
American business and to discour-
age American investment abroad.
All this may be changed when the
soldiers come back-for they will
demand not leaf-raking WPA Jobs
but real opportunities. Unless
America becomes International
minded in an economic sense and
asks for her fair share in world
trade, Britain will take not only
the trade that America had but
also the trade that Germany and
France had.
That's why discussion of post
war merchant marine for America.
international aviation routes and
bases on the cultivation of good
will for America in the smaller
countries now getting lease-lend aid
is a very pertinent subject of de-
bate. 1t doesn't involve in the least
criticism of, but undaunted admir-
alton for the British leaders who
look out for their businessmen and
are rightly concerned with the Job
opportunities of their soldiers and
sailors.
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