The Wilmington morning star., 1947-05-31
3 Foreign Policy
ANNE o,HARE Mccormick

Nv ANNE O'HARE Mccormick
The leading a~rtical. in The London Econo-
mist of May "a cites as an example o! oui
'relative concern for the external and inter-
nal aspects of Americas antl-CommunlSt cru
sade'' the action of Congress in giving the
FIJI all the funds requested for tracking doWn
Communists at home and on the same Gay
throwing out the appropriation tor the voice
Of America" broadcasts abroad. But congress
later reversed it's position on these broadcasts,
and this serves as a pat illustration o! d
phenomenon that is often overlooked by Tor
eign observers.
The truth is that our national impulses can
run one way and our considered oeclslohs
another. Our first reactions, although deep
rooted and vociferous, are as likely as not
to be overruled in our final actions. This
tendency to adopt policies that 60 against
the grain has grown in recent months. Inc
support of the Truman program IS the best
example of how far this country has gone II
accepting obligations that run counter to the
instructive and traditional American aversion
10 anything that savors of 'milltarlsm' or
'imptrialsm."
The winter in the economist is acute
enough to see that the fluctuations in foreign
policy that disturb the governments that try
to steer their course by ours reflect dlversl-
ties between emotion and Judgment as well
as between the interests and outlooks Of peo-
pie scattered across a continent as vast ana
as this. The real miracle is that a
heterogeneous population like ours has devel'
Ioped out of experience and debate a war
unity and a non-partlsan postwar policy.
If 'the Americans hand is all trumps,"
as the Economist asserts, this trend toward
a common front in world affairs is the ace
caro-. The most important effect Of the Tru-
man program is not the aid to Greece and
Turkey CT even the warning that further
Coy;of oyrorciop ~ ~, -, " Tho or1,~-
citation of the ''doctrine'' and its endorsement.
by Congress after prolonged questioning and
discussion-which gave it the appearance Of
delbel ation-haS done more than anything
else to spread the conviction abroad that the
United States is a permanent as well as the
most powerful present factor in world politics
The Soviet tactic OF multiplying obstacles 10
peace and recovery is supposed by many to
be inspired by the belief that an economic
slump will increase popular opposition to fur
Their Investments in Europe and cause the
United States to pull up stakes and 60 home.
While this is always a danger, the prospect
OF American withdrawal, even in reaction to
a depression, is much more remote than i:
was a few months ago. The significant fact
is that we have taken new commitments in
the face of worsening conditions. The crisis
has broken in Europe. Europe is verging
On collapse, and Americans, enstead Of trying
to get out Of the way, Immediately perceive
the peril to themselves and for the first time
begin to give urgent thought to plans for
salvaging as much of the falling structure
as they can.
Sheer necessity, in other words,-the nee
eSslty OF giving a lead in this crisis, the
necessity OF holding our own''-demands
%boldnesS and continuity in foreign policy. The
British commentator, brushing aside any
question of the superior power of the United
States over any rival or combination of rivals
in raw material resources, industrial capa-
city, scientific knowledge, productive know
how skilled labor suggests that the OBJ
stacle to the shaping of a policy to insure
the most effective use of this power lies less
in the national will than in the nature of our
system of government.
Ihls comment goes too far in placing re-
sponsibility for our wavering attitudes on the
division of power between the President and
Congress. This division should be more Grip
pllng thar usual at this ~juncture, when one
party controls the executive and the other
the legislative branch of the government, vet
actually, in the months since the last elections.
the Administration has pursued a more pos
tive and more strongly supported cource
in foreign affairs than it did before.
Many American students of government
however, voiced the same criticism. This
gives tlmly Unrest to an early essay TO Wood
row Wilson on cabinet Government which
has just been reprinted by the Woodrow Will
son Foundation.
Wilson proposed that a Cabinet be chosen
from among the members OF the House and
Senate lnsuring election by the people. to
serve as the liaison between the Executive
and Congress. 1t should be empowered to init
ate legislation and compelled to resign when
beaten On major legislation which it inflated.
HIS Idea was to add to the American system
OF checks and balances the responsive and
flexible feature of the British system, to pro-
vide NOR public debate for important issues
and renew 1.-The now perishing growth OF
statesmanlike qualities.' Cabinet Government.
ne thought, would tend to produce responsible
leaders.
This last is the chief ingedient of wise and
Sustained policy. The immediate crisis calls
not Tor a change in the structure but for the
use IN government Of all the brains and states
nansh'p we can muster. Our dilemmas in
in Germany, in dealing with star
Vauon' IN Our relations with Russia. are the
results OF shortsightedness, ignorance and
hnScalcu!atlon. 1t is not much to saw that
we are overpes simistic today because we
were overoptimistic yesterday. New York
Times.