U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 7

U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

DEBATE THIS WEEK SYMPATHIES IN EUROPE BALANCING OF POWER [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Feb. 6, 7.5 p.m. WASHINGTON, Feb. 5. The foreign policy debate this week is turning on the question whether President Roosevelt intends that the United States shall back Britain and France, except with man-power, in the event of a European war. Senators regard this as more important than the controversy which raised it —as to whether the President put the American defence frontier in France.

Mr. Roosevelt’s statement of policy on February 3 was grounded on the principles of American tradition and is completely acceptable to the isolationist. A running attack on the statement must be confined to its lack of detail.

It is expected that Senator Pittman, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, will be asked to amplify his statement that the only way to prevent war in Europe “would be such an equal balancing of military power that neither side would be willing to undertake the chance of defeat.” The object ol questioning will be to discover whether or not the Administration intends to throw the weight of the United States on the side of this “equal balancing of military power,” on the assumption that this could only mean facilitating the re-armin 6 of Britain and France while withholding munitions from other nations which are highly armed.

The bulk of the American Press charges Mr. Roosevelt with muddling, but at least his practice of advancing and retreating has the advantage ox preventing a clear issue arising between the isolationists and his own followers. He does not want a decision on the specific issue to be forced while, as now, there is risk of a setback.

According to the New York HeraldTribune, the probability is that there will be no concrete issue unless and until a major war breaks out. The trouble for the isolationists is that the issue in such an event may come too late. Their position has been weakened visibly since the Munich outbreak. Tnus, although President Roosevelt would like to see the Neutrality Act amended, he may continue to talk generalities. To move to amend the Act would certainly precipitate a trial of strength.

ADVANCE AND RETREAT MR. ROOSEVELT’S METHODS. SENATORS STICK TO THEIR STORY. WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. A full airing on the floor of the Senate of what occurred at the conference between Mr. Roosevelt and the Military Affairs Committee, is likely to follow the President's declaration that it is a deliberate lie to say that he put America’s defence frontier in France. Indignant senators stock to their story and the reliable newspapers, after again checking their sources of information, have not withdrawn their earlier accounts.

It is suggested that Mr. Roosevelt sent up a trial balloon, although the New York Herald-Tribune observes that such an amiable metaphor can hardly be used when the President “simply eats his words.” It is pointed out that he retreated similarly, though not so far, atfer his foreign policy speech in Chicago in 1937 and after declaring his support for Canada in 1938. The New York 'Times comments that there is reason to doubt whether the matters discussed on Tuesday were intended to be kept confidential. It adds: "It was obviously impossible with 17 listeners. The President chose the worst possible way to further his own foreign policy and followed this up quite unfairly with an attack on the Press. If he will lead the way in proposing an amendment to the Neutrality Act, enabling American influence to be used more effectively in restraining aggression, he will have prompt support from all who agree with him that there are methods short of war in bringing home to aggressor Governments the sentiments of the American people.” Declaring that the President has fallen into a ditch of his own digging, the Herald-Tribune says: “The President episode is a new record in advance and retreat for this or any President.”

PELTED WITH ROTTEN EGGS ITALIAN ADMIRAL’S HOSTILE RECEPTION Received Feb. 6, 7.5 p.m. PANAMA CITY, Feb. 5. Two Italian cruisers, arriving on a goodwill cruise, were met by angry crowds and Admiral Somigli’s car was pelted with rotten eggs as he drove to call on the president of police. Reserves were called out, feeling running high owing to the Gayda’s editorials stating that the Italian and the German defence frontiers may extend to the Panama Canal.