Evening star., 1944-08-20
New Factor Enters
American Politics
Dewey Hull Discussions Set
Welcome Precedent
By John H. Cline.

~ SOJeN H. SttsCs
Something new has been added to
the American political scene.
During the week just passed Secretary
OF State Hull invited Gov Dewey,
the Republican presidential candidate,
to discussion Of this country's postwar
security program, and Gov. Dewey
promptly accepted. That is something
new, entirely new, and 1t can be pro-
ductive of incalculably significant re-
suits.
Much will depend, of course. upon the
spirit in which the invitation was is
sued and the acceptance sent. But the
opportunity, at least, has been pre-
sented, an opportunity for constructive
political achievement that is entirely
without precedent in our experience.
For anything approaching parallel,
1t is necessary to turn back to Novem-
Der IA, 1882, when Herbert Hoover, de-
feated in his bid for reelection, invited
Franklin Delano Roosevelt to the White
House to discuss "a world problem of
major Importance to this Nation" Mr..
Hoover was referring specifically to the
war debts, upon which default seemed
imminent as the one-year moratorium"
was drawing to its close. He added,
however, that he would like to discuss
other important questions, such as the
Forthcoming world economic conference
and the matter of disarmament, with
the man who was soon to succeed him
as President of the United States.
The Presidents invitation was a warm
one. He stressed that the element of
time was of the greatest Importance,
and, recalling that the President-elect
was scheduled to pass through WASH
ington the following week, Mr.. Hoover
wrote: Il hope you will find it con-
venient to stop off long enough for me
to advise with you" Mr. Roosevelt ac-
cepted the invitation the following day,
and suggested meeting that would be
wholly informal and personal"
The two men met on the evening of
November % at the White House, some
three weeks in advance Of the due date
of payment on the debt from II debtor
countries. Mr.. Roosevelt was accom-
panied by Raymond Moley and the
President had his Secretary of the
Treasury, Ogden Mills, with him. They
talked for two hours, the President and
his successor being alone during the
last 10 minutes. What was said has
not been officially divulged, but unoffi-
cial reports had it that Mr.. Roosevelt
made it clear he did not intend to be-
come involved in the debt matter until
he had assumed Office as President and
had the actual authority and RESPONSE
bilities Of that office. In any event,
nothing came of the meeting. Mr.
Hoover had to deal with the problem
as best he could, handicapped by the
loss of prestige resulting from his cleo
ton defeat and the openly hostile atti-
tude of the Congress.
There are obvious differences between
that situation and the one prevailing
today. Mr.. Roosevelt had been elected
in 1882; Mr.. Dewey is merely in the
hopeful stage. The contrast between
the two invitations is great Where Mr.
Hoovers was cordially formal, Secretary
Hull's was in the form Of an answer to
a reporters press conference question
as to whether he would welcome a con-
ference with Gov. Dewey. Where Mr..
Roosevelt accepted for himself, Gov.
Dewey proposes to send his close friend
and adviser on foreign affairs, John
Foster Dulles. for at least the FIRST dis
cussion with Secretary Hull. These
things are relatively unimportant, how
ever. What will count will be the atti-
tude of the parties to these prospective
discussions, their willingness to forsake
partisan advantage and to meet on the
common ground of what is good for the
United States and mankind in what
Mr.. Hull describes as the gravest crisis
in all its experience"
At this stage of the matter. 1t is
difficult to know just what agreements
might be reached between the Repub-
lican candidate and the administration.
But 1t seems evident that some ma jor
points might be cleared up. Secretary
Hull. taking exception to the statement
issued by Mr.. Dewey on Thursday, has
said emphatically that there is no de-
sign on the part of this Government Ito
subject the nations of the world, great
and small permanently to the coercive
power" OF the four big countries-Brit-
ain, Russia, China and the United
States. But he has not said in very
specific terms what it is that this coun-
try proposes to do, or what plan it will
submit to the security conference which
opens tomorrow.
Mr.. Hull says this Government wants
to see a general international organiza-
ton based on the principle of sovereign
equality of all peace-loving states, and
open to membership of all such states"
But how will an organization of this
sort function effectively? Will Poland.
for example, have as authoritative a
voice in the decisions of the general
organization as Russia? There is some
reason to think that Poland will not.
Mr.. Churchill has said that If wars
are to be prevented there must be "a
world controlling council compris-
ing the greatest states which emerge
victorious from this war" President
Roosevelt has said that he emissions,
first, "a fully representative body of all
nations" with broad responsibilities
to promote international cooperation
through such agencies as may be found
necessary" and, second, sort of execu-
tive council elected annually by this
body, the council to be composed of
Britain, Russia, China and the United
States plus "Suitahle number" of