The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1944-01-06
Realistic Attitude Marks
Change in Allied Diplomacy
New Journey Into International Cooperation
Combines IdeaIism and Realism; Step
Away From Old Style Power Alliances.
BY BAUKHAGE
Ne,Us Analyst and Commentator.
WNU Service, Union Trust Building,
Washington, d. C.


Washington, d. C.
What kind of a man is Stain?
That question was put to President
Roosevelt at the White House press
and radio conference on the day of
his return to Washington from Eu-
rope. He was tanned, alert, cheer
full. still pulsing with the conscious.
ness Of achievement. His answer,
which came without a seconds hest
tation, I thought, was significant.
Stain. he said, was a r~ealist, just
like himself.
I am not particularly interested in
the accuracy of that answer, either
as an analysis of Stain or self
analysis of the President. But to me
the fact that the President chose
realism as the outstanding and COM
NOR characteristic Of himself and
the man on whose word and deed
so much Of the future depends. was,
I think. significant.
On the whole. in the light Of later
pronouncements, use Of that term
seems a good omen rather than a
bad one.
Mr.. Roosevelt is committed to a
plan for the postwar world which
leans toward the ideal. rather than
toward the old style diplomatic
realism" which is nothing but tooth.
and-claw tactics behind a laundered
facade Of protocol. I think the
American people have shown plainly
that they are more interested in
stopping-or at least postponing-
wars than they are in the slogans OF
the isolationists or the imperialists.
Granted that, the fact that Roose-
welt emphasizes the "realist" side
when he speaks. gives n a feeling
that he and Stain and Chur chill
have been able to reach some rough
agreements that are practical
enough to work, and yet are a little
less earthly than the old power alli-
ances. which always end in wars
and always will.
The Conference
I recall very well that crowded
news conference for which friend
and foe alike turned out to see what
the President looked like after his
trip. One hundred and seventy-nine
working press and radio correspond
ents were there, not counting Off
Gals. The innocent expected some
hot, inside stuff; the cynical hoped
the President would reveal errors
by concealing them; the average re-
porter knew it "a going to be a
good story n way or the other.
Everyone was satisfied. Those who
yearned for the dramatic got the
story of the German plot which
didn't come off. Those who were
looking for trouble were gratifed
that he revealed no new concrete de-
velopments. The objective reporter
got his quota of news, for everything
a President says is that.
But the two remarks of the Presi-
dent stood out in my mind-the one
I mentioned (realism) and another.
made almost as loon as the last of
us had squeezed into the crowded
oval office. and they were. I be-
lieve. most revealing as far as our
future foreign policy goes.
Those in the first row had time to
take in the Presidents cheerful and
informal appearance-the colored
shirt and the pull-over sweater
which he had worm on his trip-and
which. because Of one meeting fol-
lowing another from the moment he
arrived at the White House. he still
wore. He had been on the job since
$50 a. NIT was then after four.
As soon as the signal that the
last reporter was in the room was
given. the President began to speak
Of the success Of the trip. and he
said that those who shared with him
in the hopes Of a durable peace Che
referred to Russia, Britain, China)
were motivated by the determina-
ton that there would not be another
war while this generation lives.
I must admit that the words at
first struck me a little coldly-
"while this generation lives" Not
much long-range optimism there, l
thought. But afterWard and since
his later announcements, general
though they have been, l feel a lit
tie better about it. 1t seems to me
that perhaps we are at last en-
barked upon an adventure in inter
national cooperation with enough
idealism to keep our eyes on the
heavens and enough realism to keep
feet on the ground. That is my
New Years hope and wish.