Evening star., 1951-12-04


EDWIN L. JAMES.
of standing aloof from the League
of Nations and of clinging to iso-
lationism in the face of mounting
threats to peace and security.
Mr.. James returned to Europe
as chief European correspondent
for the Times, a position he held
until he came back to New York
in 1881 as assistant managing
editor.
Besides directing the work of
the papers other correspondents
in Europe. he continued as an
Especially active correspondent
himself. His major stories. many
of them exclusives, included a
prediction in 1927 that Germany
would seek territorial revision,
forecast of the Kellogg BRAND
treaty and Of the Young plan for
German reparation payments and
warnings that economic warfare
was in full swing in Europe.
Mr.. James also warned well
ahead Of time that democracy
was losing out in much of Europe
and that relationships not only
were gaining ground but were
provoking repeated crises that
might end in a world war.
/ Always Reporter at Heart.
One of his last important prof.
ects in Europe before returning to
the United States in 1881 was
detailed survey of the situation in
1.-THE Soviet Union. Getting such
information was about as difficult
then as it is today but Mr.. James
produced series of articles which
his colleagues say stood the test
of time better than most works of
this kind"
While the managing editorship
gave Mr.. James new and often
different duties and responsible
titles. he never ceased to be a re-
porter and correspondent at heart.
Nor did he abandon his lifelong
policy Of trying to help the reader
understand a situation.
/ II have pride in the profession
which is mine" he once said. Ito
hold that it is the mission of good
journalists and good newspapers
to give the people the opportunity
TO judge the issue on the facts
of the case presented fully and
without an effort at sensation"
/ Critic of Programs.
This did not mean Mr.. James
tsoftened his punches or was less
the critic of United States foreign
policy or other programs he be-
lieved would increase danger if not
bring ultimate disaster.
In many quarters today, Mr..
James is acclaimed for a major
share in the part that his news
paper took in helping to win or
marshal public support for a ma
tional policy Of international CO.
Operation.
I'm this respect" one writer
commented, "the Wilsonian liber-
alism that was the fiber of his
being, illumined his search for the
truth. but it was a newly realistic
liberalism"
AS managing editor Mr.. James,
in addition to his other duties,
gave particular direction to the
work OF the papers 66 correspond
ents who covered World War II.
President Recalls Role.
He not only closely followed the
news gathering work but he OBJ
tanned many exclusive stories him.
self and also wrote a Sunday
column Of editorial comment. In
recent years his health failed
somewhat but seldom enough to
keep him away from his desk.
His death brought from Presi-
dent Truman in Key West. Fla,
an expression of "shock and grief"
The President recalled that Mr..
James was a great foreign cor
respondent" before he became an
Executive Of the Times.
/ Mr.. James is survived by his
widow, the former Simone Tre-
moulet, whom he married in June,
1918. and three children, Claude,
Monique and Michel. Michel
James is a Times correspondent
in Pakistan.
Several foreign governments
bestowed decorations on Mr..
James. He also received honorary
doctorates from several colleges,
Including Randolph-Macon Col
lege where he was graduated in
1910 and was a member of Phi
Beta Kappa.