Evening star., 1945-01-17
Roosevelt Seen Focing
Hard Diplomatic Job
Big Three Fail to Realize u. S.
Idealism, Says Writer
Bv David laurence

A0Slckus ouye VlRSA
By David Laurence
President Roosevelt wisely refrained
from discussing at his press conference
either his plans or background think
ing about the vital questions that short
ly are to come before the big Three"
conference
Mr.. Roosevelt has ahead Of him the
most difncult conference Of all times in
American diplomacy. 1t Is difncult be-
cause, though neither Mr.. Churchill
nor Mr.. Stain may realize it, some
thing has happened to American public
opinion in the last few weeks which
makes the Presidents task more COM
plicated than 1t has ever been at any
previous conference.
True Mr.. Roosevelt has been re-
elected for fourth term and true also
that he recognizes perhaps more than
his colleagues In Government how difii-
cult are the problems Of liberated
Europe, but the acts which have alien
ated such large sections of american
opinion are not those of Mr.. Roosevelt
DuC OF brlCaln ana RUSSIA.
1t Is futile to argue whether or not
America is In this war to defend her
own land and it Is futile to discuss what
might have happened If America had
not entered the war alongside Britain.
For while many millions Of Americans
understand fully that American safety
and national interest were at stake,
there are millions of others who have
no such appreciation Of the reason why
hundreds of thousands of our troops
are casualties today at points far dis
tant from their homeland
Idealism in America.
In America the war has been clothed
almost wholly with an idealistic pur-
pose. To Britons the war rightly seems
to involve q direct interest of defense.
Yet only the other day British news
paper asked rather querulously whether
America could expect Britons to be as
interested In what happens in Man
churia as what happens in Belgium.
That's exactly the point in reverse.
Americans in many instances feel about
France and Belgium about the same
way As apparently some Britishers do
about Manchuria-both places seem far
away and the immediate reason for
fighting In faraway areas is not always
apparent.
So, irrespective of how the publicists
here or abroad may feel about it
and those favoring international CO.
operation have felt the sting of the
criticism Of the isolationists far more
lately than have any other group-the
fact remains that Mr.. Roosevelt's prob
lem with American public opinion de-
pends on what Russia does with re-
spect to Poland and what policies Brit
ain pursues in liberated countries like
Greece and Italy.
Fortunately the skepticism about
Russia's alleged hesitancy to begin a
deeds and not mere words. AS for
Britain, no matter what the external
arguments may be, there is a deep
friendship between the peoples of the
two countries which a few weeks of
bitter criticism cannot erase.
The British press apparently does not
know how far reaching is the American
determination this time to support
system of collective security. 1t must
have been surprising, for instance, to
the London Economist" editors, who
were so ready recently to dismiss as
illusory American participation in post
war commitments, to read Senator VAN
denberg's brilliant speech on behalf Of
an overwhelming majority of his Re-
publican party colleagues.
"Nonsense" From Britain.
There are some incomprehensible
things coming out of Britain, as, for
example, the dispatch saying . COM
mentator in the London News Chronicle
believes Secretary Stettinius isn't going
to the Big Three" conference because
the President is disciplining him for
that formal statement about British
policy in Italy. This Is nonsense. Mr..
Stettinius doesn't issue statements of
such importance without the knowledge
Of the President, and rs to whether he
will or will not be present ut the con-
ference, it would be wiser to wait few
weeks and let events answer that
question.
Mr.. Roosevelt has been consulting
members Of the Senate. At no time
since the war began has there been
such . unanimity of sentiment on
both sides Of the political aisle ~ there
Is today. News of the larger and
larger casualty list makes all Amen-
cans feel deeply the gravity Of the war
situation. More often than ever before
the question, what are We fighting
for7" is being heard. President Roose-
velt's previous statements and addresses
answer that question and snow our
Allied friends by their acts and policies
can help him confirm those statements
to America and the world.
Just when Mr.. Roosevelt win leave
Washington Is not disclosed, but when
ever he goes and wherever he may be,
this Ii the time for Americans Of all
parties and creeds to pray for the
success of his mission.
Rsproduction Rishts Reservsd3
Two Viewpoints
From the Great Bend Tribune
Speaking Of viewpoints. Walter Reu-
ther. vice president Of the United Auto
Workers (C1O), says, I'VE can in Amer
lea, on the basis of 30-hour-week,
create all the wealth that we could be.