Evening star., 1944-08-30

the enort Is not
meeting with -
much success.
The basis of Frank B. Kent.
the new drive to restore the Willkie
prestige appears to be that, having
been invited by both Mr.. Roosevelt
and Mr.. Dewey to confer on the sub
iect Of foreign policy, Mr.. Willkie
has managed to avoid seeing either
one.
In regard to Gov. Dewey, he did
unbend sufficiently to confer with
his representative. Mr.. Dulles, but
took precautions to avert what he
feared would be an attempt to asso-
ciate him with the Dewey campaign
by taking pictures of him with Mr..
Dulles.
In regard to Mr. Roosevelt, who
first denied knowledge Of the invi-
tation but later admitted it, Mr..
Willkie let it be known that, OF
course, If it came as command
from the President he would attend.
However, it is explained by his
friends that he hopes it will not
come before the election, as he does
not want his visit to be used to pro-
mote the Roosevelt fourth-term ef-
fort.
This, it is held, proves Mr.. Willkie
a man of such great sincerity and
high principle that those who have
not admired his queer conduct since
his Wisconsin defeat have come now
to feel that the Willkie position, in
stead of being indefensible and alb
surd, is really creditable and COM
mendable.
Who Are the "Repentant"?
1t would be interesting to know
who are these low fellows who have
been brought to repentance by this
recent exhibition of Wlllkie nobility
Certainly they are not members of
his own party. Nor are they among
that group of former Willkie aides
who helped organize his campaign
for the nomination but are now
strongly and openly for Dewey.
And they hardly could be the pro-
Roosevelt politicians and publiclsts
as from the day Mr.. Willkie became
critical of the Republican platform
and candidate, these have rejoiced
in his aloofness and have endeav-
ored to widen the breach by hypo-
critically heaping praise upon him.
correctly estimating that his atti-
tude is well calculated to promote
fourth-term prospects.
Concerning his recent exhibition
Of impartiality between Mr.. Roose-
welt and Mr.. Dewey, it may prove
sincerity and principle to some, but
there Is another view. This is that
ono has to strain very hard indeed
to find anything like principle to
support it. Because, actually. there
Is no major principle of foreign
policy advocated by Mr.. Willkie
which also Is not advocated by Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr.. Dewey.
On the fundamentals OF postwar
foreign policy and permanent inter-
national cooperation in the interests
Of peace there is no real difference
between Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr..
Dewey and none between either and
Mr.. Willkle. On basic principles
there is no room for dispute among
them. If Mr.. Willkie finds himself
differing with either on foreign
policy it will be over some minor
point, not on q principle.
This, of course, is a pretty fine
thing for the country-and for the
world. 1t should mean genuine ma
tional unity behind the United
States foreign policy as it is now
being evolved. 1t should remove for
eign policy as an issue in the cam
paign. 1t should mean nonpartisan
approval of the framework for the
peace machine shortly to emerge
from the Dumbarton Oaks confer
ence, all of which would mean much
for the future security of the world
against war.
Deserves Credit for Fight.
No one wants to detract from Mr..
Wilkes part in bringing about this
state of affairs. He deserves full
credit for the fight he made against
isolationism within his party and no
one questions either his sincerity or
courage In making it.
But that is very different thing
from attributing nobility to him in
this instance; to hail his stand as
a matter of principle when no prin-
ciple Is involved; to assert that be-
cause of his coldneSs to both Mr..
Roosevelt and Mr.. Dewey, his critics
have come to see the error of their
ways and now concede that always
he has been pure and holy man;
that he had no difficulty in swal-
lowing his personal disappointment;
that no tinge of bile and bitterness
has affected his conduct. Neither
the facts nor the testimony Of vari-
ous persons who have talked with
him in recent months bear this out.
The truth is, Mr.. Willkie loves
being a mystery man. He literally
revelS in posing as the impartial
Judge between the two candidates.
each OF whom is bidding for his
favor and whom he is recurring to
measure up to his principles" init
mating, from time to time, rather
iague dissatisfaction with and dis
trust for both.
Though nearly two months have
passed since the conventions, he has
not yet found a principle" to JUS
tify boiling the Republican ticket or
supporting fourth term. Nor is
he likely to find one. His ability to
1T TAKES I