Evening star., 1944-08-22
Foreign Policy as Issue
In Election Seen DuIIed
Dewey Satisfies Independents
in Dulles Move, Says Writer
By David Laurence

By David Laurence
Foreign policy as an issue In the presi-
Dental campaign may not prove to be
as controlling as was believed . few
weeks ago. Gov. Dewey, recognizing
no doubt that he has been carrying
big handicap in the support so enthu-
siastically being given him by the tso-
lationist wing Of the Republican party,
is anxious, Of course, to prevent the
internationally minded wing of the
party from assuming that he would, II
elected President, adopt what has been
called the Nationalist" course.
The Republican presidential nominee,
in projecting John Foster Dulles to the
front as his representative in the dis
cussions with Secretary Hull and wen-
dell Willkie, has gone long way to-
wards satisfying the independents who
were apprehensive concerning the iso-
lationist support being given Gov.
Dewey.
1t is too early, Of course, 70 know
just what differences, If any, there will
be between Gov. Dewey and President
Roosevelt on foreign policy, but the
Republican nominee unquestionably has
strengthened his position in the last
week by designating Mr.. Dulles to rep
resent him, because this means to a good
many persons that he will follow the
advice of his representative, the latter
being one of the best known and ablest
of the authorities on international rela-
tions in America.
Differences of Opinion.
There are indications, however, that
there will be some differences Ct opin-
ion. These will not by any means give
comfort to the Nazis or the Japanese.
Already Gov. Dewey has made it clear
that if the German strategists are
thinking that they will get an easier
peace if a Republican is elected, they
will be disillusioned in due time
The suggestion, for example, coming
from Gov. Dewey that the industries in
the Ruhr Valley might be internation-
allied is stronger indication of stern
peace than anything that has come as
yet from the Roosevelt administration.
But the conference now meeting at
Dumbarton Oaks in Washington Is to
be devoted very largely to drafting the
provisions of the general international
organization" 1t has nothing to do
with peace terms or the military agree.
ments to operate after the armistice.
Unquestionably, small nations will be
given ample representation Secretary
Hulls statement that all fears to the
contrary are unfounded will be proved
IN the end to be accurate. For nobody
is more aware than the present State
Secretary of the dangers of an interna-
tional organization that does not give
adequate representation to the small
nations.
When all the drafts of proposed char
tiers and constitution for the general
international organization are analyzed
and reviewed and ultimately there is
agreement, 1t will be found that the
Covenant Of the League Of Nations will
be the backbone of any future world
organization. This is because the prob
lem of representation for the smaller
nations was effectively solved by the
Covenant through a system of rotation
on the council and through a system
which permitted all nations to be rep
resented In the Assembly.
Basic Provisions.
No matter what name Is eventually
selected for the general international
organization the basic provisions in
large part will resemble those of the
League of Nations. 1t has been stated
heretofore, but 1t cannot be stated too
often, that the wording of the Covenant
Of the League of Nations had little to
do with the causes that led to this war.
Even with a perfectly worded agree.
ment, the fact remains that the poll
ticians in Great Britain, France and
the United States did not meet cour-
ageously the rising power of Hitlerism
which began in 1933-fully is years
after Germany was disarmed and de-
modified
What is really needed at Dumbartor,
Oaks is a psychological study of par
tisan politics in democracies and the
circumstances that prevent politicians
from becoming statesmen. If men in
public life in Britain and France, as
well as in this country. had dared to
risk temporary unpopularity and even
political power in a cause that ulti.
mately would have been proved right,
this war might not have occurred. How
to mobilize character and courage in
the political governments Of democ.
racies Is the real problem that must be
faced If another world war is to be
avoided