The Wilmington morning star., 1947-03-22
We Face A Decision

A foreign policy is effective only to the
degree that it has popular support. Under
standing is essential to support. At the mo-
ment this country is in a place where the
great necessity for understanding comedies
with great difficulties in obtaining understand.
ing.
1t is doubtful il the seriousness OF the news
from Great Britain is even now fully realized
in. the United States. The reason is that the
drama from which that news hangs has very
little to do with the tragedy that is revealed.
The popular impression seems to be that a
highly unfortunate break in the weather has
forced Britain to modify some policies.
The real situation is more fundamental. 1t
is foolish to suppose that some billiards. by
themselves accomplished in a few days what
hostile armies have failed to accomplish in
almost as many centuries. This is not a case
where spring thaws and a revival Of the spirit
OF Dunkerque will resolve the troubles; not
at all. The role Of the Billiards has been
to reveal that a comparatively trivial thing
could upset a nation that was a world power;
the snow did not create a hollow shell but
it exposed one.
Had a conqueror occupied Britain to dictate
terms Of peace stripping the nation Of empire
and world power, the significance and the
impact on the world would be Immediately
clear. Something very like that has happened.
Remembering all that America and western
civilization owe Britain, one is reluctant to
set that down. But there it is.
The British withdrawal from world affairs
leaves vacuums. Vacuums do not remain.
They are filled. We see such a situation now
typified in Greece. Soon we may see it else
where.
Does this nation wish to fill the vacuums?
Or does it wish to see them filled by the
only other force powerful enough to do so,
that is, Soviet Russia?
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assume a world role far beyond anything our
extreme internationalists have envisaged. If
the country acts otherwise, it will be choosing
an isolationism beyond anything our isolation
lists have visualize6.
1t would be idle to say that the latter choice
cannot be supported, 1t can be argued validly
that the American political forms and social
organization are not suited to nation play
ing a world role. 1t is certainly true that
such a role is neither the wish nor the ira
dition OF many Of the American people.
Neither dependence on foreign supplies nor
foreign markets absolutely require assumption
OF the role, as was the case with Britain.
IL there were promised only a struggle for
power and spoils between states of similar
civilization. processing similar ideals. the iso-
latlon argument might seem compelling to a
majority Of Americans just as it did in the
ls2Vs. But 1t is not just a game Of 18th
SCHtuly poWer pOIllCS. II IS IN aQQltlOl to
that a conflict between two ideas, each Of
which is basic to a form of social organi.
cation: on one side the idea of man as an
individual for who's. benefit the state exists
and the opposite idea that man is a functional
organism existing for the benefit Of the state.
THESE ideas are in q struggle for domination.
So 1t will be well, we think, to ponder
whether it is possible to isolate ones self
iron: an idea: or, if it is possible. whether
1t is wise At SnSne y1son ~ viJ1 Ln
to meet that idea and a geographic maneuver
will not avoid the necessity.
There will be people who say that they
know the answer. in fact have been aware
OF it for a long time. 1t is not out Of place
to suggest that these people be less confident.
II the first place, a SNUG and patronizing
attitude is the opposite Of a contribution to
the calm discussion that is needed. In the
second place, these people who claim pos
session of the right answers might reflect that
the foreign policy which they have so largely
guided has not been adequate to the situation
that now c~onfronts this country.
AS a matter Of fact there has been no
foresight comparable to the size of the change
that is taking place. Washington reports to
this newspaper show how inadequate has been
even the appreciation Of Europe's need for
food and other supplies. The depth Of the po-
htlcal chaos has been underestimate The
weakness Of Britain, which ha d been the
stabilizing influence in many places. was mis-.
judged even by the British.
What all shades Of opinion must recognize
is, first, that choice of policies is possible.
The choice must be intelligently made. Crop
ing and laundering toward even a right de-
cision may be as harmful as making the
wrong decision.
It must be recognized that it is a choice
between two extremes. There probably is no
middle ground. Thus if the country is to
choose that policy conn. only called inter-
nationalism, halfway measures would be-
seized as. a sign Of weakness, an indication
Of the lack of conviction equivalent to in
ability to decide. 1t would be better conscious
ly to take the other road.
And the choice cannot be made in an
atmosphere OF rowdy determination and above
all it cannot be made except by a people
in possession of all the facts. which they can
have only from their government.
Heretofore there may have been expla-
nations for the lack Of complete candor. But
in the present situation there can be no injury
to British susceptibilities by discussing British
conditions as they are. There can no longer
be lack Of frankness about Russia and the
theological gulf; certainly such things are no
news to the Russians. Candor requires that
the cost to America Of an expanded world
role be told the American people, for the
cost will be very great in gifts. loans and
military expenditures. II that information is
withheld there is great danger that the coun-
try will rebel at some halfway point. 1t would
be better not to take a course that must
be retraced.
There is no one among us who can say
that he surely knows the right way. If there
were such a one, his presclence would avail
nothing unless he could make the country
understand and win its support.-Wall Street
Journal.
Spectators of life are not those who will re-.
tain their liberties, nor are they likely to con.
: tribute to their country's security. -Secre.
tary of State Marshall.
Our Investigations reveal that an elaborate
scheme of legal espionage operations is being