Evening star., 1944-12-25

prove beneficial If it clears the at
mosphere over here and restores our
sense of proportion. In particular,
it will be helpful if it impresses upon
us the great danger of pickering
with our allies before the war is
won and puts an end to the miser-
able campaign of disparagement of
the British which has been going on
here for some weeks.
This has been conducted In a
certain section of the press, over
the air by certain radio commenta-
tors and in the United States Sem
ate by certain incurable British
baiters. In the light of what is hap
pening In Belgium it seems partic-
ularly unworthy and indefensible.
People Left UNIFORMED.
Much of this has been because
there has been no clear statement
of American policy from any official
source and the American people
have been left in a muddy and un-
informed state of mind by the one
man who could inform. them. As a
result, issues have been debated
and discussed without the facts and
ugly feeling has developed.
1t would be helpful, too, If the
German offensive should put an end
to the sort of presidential frivolity
and vagueneS manifested at Mr..
Roosevelt's recent press conferences
and which serve further to confuse
rather than clarity the public under
standing on important matters-for
example, as to whether such things
as the Atlantic Charter and the Four
Freedoms (at one time compared by
Mr. Roosevelt to the Magma Charta
and again to the Ten Command
ments), are, after all, to be taken
seriously.
1t would seem, too, that all that
heated discussion about what to dc
with Germany after the war, and OF
pensions and other compensation for
our returning veterans, has been, tC
say the least, somewhat premature
Away From Realities.
In brief, we have gotten away from
realities and have been talking ane
acting as though the war were ovel
and we had won a great victory I
is clear now that the war isn't oYel
and hasn't been won. 1t is clear tha
the predictions of last summer wert
too optimistic. 1t is clear that ther,
is much bitter and bloody fighting
ahead and that many American hive!
will be lost in the next few months
If ever there were a time wher
the whole Nation should concentrate
upon the war, this would appear to
be the time. If ever there were q
time when pickering with our basic
and best ally and discussion of
cloudy theories of what to do after
the war seemed out of place, this
Is it.
Considering these things, this
would be a particularly fine mo-
ment for the head Of the Nation to
make these simple facts-and some
others clear to the American
people.
The President, as has often been
said, has marvellous radio voice
He has a corps of gifted speech
writer's. He has all the facts. He
is the Commander in Chief, and a
genuinely clarifying statement from
him would be enormously stimulat-
ing and healthful.
He could, if he would. make the
people, generally, realize in a way
they do not seem to now the vital
necessity of making every possible
sacrifice to back up our hard
pressed armies abroad. He could
clear their minds and compel I'M
derstanding.
He could make it especially clear
TO his friends in the labor unions
that any sucn thing as strike, or
showdown, or walkout at this
time Is intolerable and unthinkable.
Critical Period.
This is an extremely critical
period in our history and in the
history of the world The Nation
badly needs information, reassur-
ance, stimulation, concentration, di-
rection. leadership. 1t would seem
to be Mr.. Roosevelts duty to supply
these things. That was why. we
WIN AZ w dso llJICoDdI1 W cltCU
him.
They cannot be supplied through
Jolly press conference give -and-t take
conversation with the reporters, nor
ny platitudinous ten-line statements
given out through a secretary, nor
by cheap slurs and sneers at CO.
hmnists who do not have to submit
hof, o,-fs 81
quest"
They will require a good deal
more effort, thought and time than
that. But it should be worth it. The
point has been made that the Brit
lsh people are far better informed
about the war through Mr.. Church.
ills speeches and reports to the
House of Commons than the Amer
lean people are through Mr.. Roose-