Evening star., 1946-10-04
Foreign Policy Aims
Clarified by Byrnes
Paris Speech Declared Answer to
Isolationist Groups q
By Dapid Laurence

By DaDid Laurence
It was simply worded speech which
Secretary of State Byrnes delivered In
Paris and 1t did not get entangled with
the Wallace Truman controversy, az
some had surmised in advance. Yet the
address was one Of the best that has
been made on American foreign policy
since the days of Woodrow Wilson.
Mr.. Byrnes answered isolationists
with clear statement that puts the Is
sue on an altogether different ground
than 1t has hitherto been debated.
"The people Of the United States" he
said, "have discovered that when a
European war starts, our own peace and
security inevitably become involved be-
fore the finish. They have concluded
that If they must help finish every
European war, it would be better for
them to do their part to prevent the
starting Of p European war;
Here In single paragraph is the es-
sence of American policy today. Here is
the reason for preparedness and ade-
quate defense and here, too, is the main
reason for active participation by this
country in the United Nations.
Heart Of World Problem.
Many Americans find European prob
lens remote If not distasteful, but Mr..
Byrnes remarked that this was less i'm
portant than the dangers that follow.
He added:
Twice in our generation doubt as to
American foreign policy has led other
nations to miscalculate the conse-
quences Of their actions. Twice In our
generation that doubt as to American
foreign policy has not brought peace,
but war"
Here is the heart of the whole pro-
gram which Mr.. Byrues has set before
the world. Whether it lis called get
tough" policy-a phrase our govern
mental spokesmen have never used-or
whether 1t is called policy Of firm ad-
herence to American ideals and to the
sanctity of written pledges, the fact is
that the United States stands ready
today to defend its policies. No such
fortnight indication of American for
eign policy was given before World
War and none was given before World
War II. AS consequence, whatever
might have been done to save Ameri-
can lives and prevent war from involv-
ing us was not done by our Government
or by the influential segments Of Amer
ican public opinion which Influenced
Government.
Secretary Byrnes was very careful not
to accuse the Republican Party Of OBJ
struction in the '20s-for there were
isolationists in both parties-but he
made pointed reference to the biparti-
san unity of today and paid tribute to
the Republican Party's present-day con-
; tribution. This, only by implication.
answered the Wallace attack on the
Republican Party's motives in foreign
done to the cause of peace than to al
low the two major political parties to
have another fight such as they had
in the '20s over American foreign
policy, and it was such misguided and
thoughtless attack by Henry Wallace
his Madison Square Garden speech.
Happily Mr.. Byrnes' speech will re-
assure the country that the Truman
Byrnes administration appreciates Re
publican cooperation at Paris, and this
expression should help in squelching
partisanship, though in both parties
there are few members who will not
show self-restraint in these matters.
Significant Passage.
Mr.. Byrnes' address contained an
other significant passage. He had an
opportunity not only to explain the
proposed treaty to keep Germany dis
armed but also to reply publicly to
GeneraliSsimo Stalinis statement to
Alexander Werth, the British corre-
spondent. The Secretary Of State con-
CURED in the Stain view that there
is no immediate danger Of war" and
added that he did not believe amy
responsible ofncial of any government
wants war;" but he put the $64 ques-
ton to the Communist chieftain In
this paragraph of common-sense SIM
picity:
THE difficulty is that while no ma
ton wants war, nations may pursue
policies or courses of action which lead
to war. Nations may seek political and
economic advantages which they can
not obtain without war. That is why,
If we wish to avoid war, we must decry
not only war but the things which lead
to war Just because war is not now
imminent, we must take the greatest
care not to plant the seeds of future
war"
This is plain warning to Russia
and all the world. The United States
does not seek war, but other nations
must not encroach on our rights or
violate pledges or impose settlements
by force that can lead to war. No bet
ter American answer could have been
made, and with unified America be-
hind that answer the chances Of war
will tend to diminish, because the
American Governments position will
not be "miscalculated" as 1t has been
twice before.
Reproduction Rshts Reserved.)
Worth Considering