"SMASHING" TACTICS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 451, 8 February 1933, Page 4

"SMASHING" TACTICS

The Ameriean press is justly celebrated for its vigorous metaphor and the President-elect of the United States, Mr. Franklin Roosevelt can, therefore, hardly be blamed for the rather amusing mental picture conjured up by a recent cable regarding his intentions on assuming office. The report described the diplomatic methods of the new President in the following typically Ameriean journalese: Mr. F. D. Roosevelt, Presidentelect having fixed his politics and found men to execute them, on Friday night will head for the open sea to enjoy the last vacation before assuming office. A smashing attaek on the tangled' international situation will he the first move of the new President. It is a little difficult to coni jecture the effect of the "smashing attaek" pictured by the en- | thusiastic reporter upon the de- ; cidedly delicate war debts situ- ! ation. The metaphor is a little jreminiscent of the bull of Basj han or of a prize fighter reasoning with his creditors. Possibly a public which has formed all its conceptions upon the grand scale and regards a prognathous j jaw and an array of telephones ! and "tickers" as an essential of big business, must have its President portrayed in the same 1 manner. Ameriean newspaper readers demand action with i their matutinal bacon and eggs ; and that is probably why Mr. Roosevelt is represented as returning bursting with energy ; and ozone to give a diplomatic j representation of the leader of a j basher gang. Smashing tactics jwill not solve the international j debts problem. It will require all j the finesse, all the iinancial unj derstanding, and all the diplomatic tact of which the statesmen of the world are capable. It j is a most severe test to place upon America's new president, but it is one in which, if he acquits himself well, he will make international history and add further lustre to the name of Roosevelt, proving that like his distinguished father he can rise above the narrow bounds of party politics.