Evening star., 1944-02-16

dent Roosevelt, would be further
ing that cause by intruding their
views in an American contest.
The best way probably to under
stand the case would be to reverse
it and imagine that Prime Minister
Churchill was being challenged IN
the House of Commons and the op-
position had made considerable
point of the fact that he had failed
to get the necessary assurances
from the United States concerning
postwar shipping or some other
matter vital to the British people.
If the American press started a
campaign to support Mr.. Church
ills continuance in office, there
would certainly be an inclination on
the part of the opposition to- the
party in power to capitalize such
intrusion.
There are many things which the
press of every country has the right
to say, but there are many things
which it would be indiscreet to say.
Notwithstanding, for example, the
splendid progress which has been
made in recent years toward re-
moving misunderstanding between
the British and ourselves, there does
exist in America a tendency to crit
icize British policies, especially as
they touch American interests in
various parts of the globe. There
is also a much smaller but never
theless sizable inheritance of anti
British feeling derived from the
Irish issues. though it has been far
less consequential and much less
noticeable in this war than in the
World War. For the British press
to feel it has right to espouse the
cause of any one of the candidates
would only fan the flames of smoul-
dering fires that might otherwise
gradually be extinguished.
The British viewpoint is we'll
known in America. 1t is simply
that a continuance of President
Roosevelt in Office is desirable from
the standpoint of continuity of war
policy and especially lease-lend
policy. But for the British to re-
veal such interest would only
stimulate the view on this side of
the water that perhaps Mr.. Roose-
welt had already leaned bit too
generously on the side of the Brit
ish business interests, particularly
in relation to postwar economic
matters. This, in turn, would only
put the President on the defensive
and possibly develop differences in
governmental attitudes which might
otherwise have never arisen.
What the British press feels it
Is discreet to say is its own busi-
ness, but what American reaction
would be to the giving of advice
by British newspapers or maga-
zines on the American presidential
campaign need not be doubted. 1T
would be one of deep resentment
and would hurt tho candidates they
favored.
There are, on the other hand,
going to be some awkward situa-
tions involving foreign nations
Supporters of Mr.. Roosevelt in this
country are going to say that his
continuance in Office is necessary in
order that world councils may be
continued by the same men who
have had from the beginning of
the war the background and init
mate knowledge of international
affairs A major point will be made
that the President and Churchill
and Stain and Chang Kai-shek
are already team and that the
introduction of a different person.
ality with a new set of policies
might slow up the processes of
agreement until other nations could
grow acquainted with the new
member of the group.
All of this will probably be dis
cussed in the campaign and there
will be a temptation on the part
OF our ambassadors abroad, who are
loyal friends of the President, to
mobilize influential opinion abroad
in support of the thesis that Amer
lea ought not change her President
at this time. Such a step, even
though taken informally, might
prove dangerous politically inside
the United States.
The fact remains that the Amer
lean people will have enough de-
bate and information on which to
make judgment without any
thoughts, stimulated artificially or
naturally, derived from foreign
countries. Freedom of choice with
out influence from any outside
source will make for a better stu
alton after election no matter who
is chosen.
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