Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1939. ROOSEVELT AND THE DICTATORS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1939. ROOSEVELT AND THE DICTATORS.

WHATEVER their immediate effect may be in Europe, President Roosevelt’s personal messages to Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini are of the highest importance as tiey bear on the development of opinion and policy m the United States and from that standpoint at least must be regarded as having a vital bearing on the outlook in world afiairs. While the American Government has been, advancing cautiously in the direction of extending support to_ the European democracies against totalitarian aggression, isolationist sentiment in the United States is still extremely strong. Hie isolationists, however, do not clearly represent American pacifist opinion. Much of the support given to the President in his foreign policy comes from Americans who would do everything in their power to keep their nation out of war, but believe that peace for the United States as well as for other nations, will be safeguarded much better if the American Government makes the weight of its influence felt fully in world affairs than it it holds aloof. Pertinent comment upon the President’s latest 'action is made in a cablegram from Washington, published today, which reads: — One important effect of President Roosevelt’s appeal, as seen here would be to fasten the guilt for starting a war firmly on the dictators —an important consideration in moulding American public opinion. Attention in many countries is focussed meantime on the probable response of the dictators to the Presidents oveituie. It is already reported from Munich that Herr Hitler will turn down the proposals. Command over events is not by any means solely in the hands of Herr Hitler and his fellow-dictator, however. If President Roosevelt’s action on this momentous occasion is generally endorsed and approved in the United States, an impressive indication will be given that in the end the dictatorships must reckon with the United States, as well as with the European democracies and other nations against whom their immediate designs are directed. A valuable impetus will be given meantime to the moral and material mobilisation of the democracies in support of peace and against aggression. Whatever the outcome may be, it is certainly desirable that the clearest possible line of division should be drawn between those who uphold a reign of law in world affairs and those who rely on force. The dictators cannot reject the President’s proposals without demonstrating anew that they are prepared to trample ruthlessly on any and every right in pursuing predatory aims. It may be hoped that this cold-blooded declaration of evil purpose, if it is made, will not only consolidate the free nations of the world in their stand against aggression, but will do something to quicken opposition to the'dictators in the territories over which they rule.