AMERICAN FEELING

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 226, 19 June 1940, Page 5

AMERICAN FEELING

Swing From Isolationism i Apparent SYMPATHY WITH ALLIES Developments iu rhe Norwegian campaign have made feeling iu America tenser now than al any time since .September, said the New York correspondent of "The Observer.” writing on April 28. The general deep-rooted sympathy with rhe Allied cause has conn' to the surface, showing itself iu the anxiety and gloom with which the slightest. German success is received. It is revealed, too. iu the sharp criticism of tile disposition in some quarters to make extreme isolationism the leading issue in the Presidential election. Simultaneously three separate attacks have been made on the growing tendency of politicians to exploit "Keep out of the war” sentiment. One comes from that very widely read political commentator, Mr. Walter Lippman. He asserts that the immediate interests of certain politicians cause them to establish a \“total blackout of serious discussion” on America’s present and future international interests'. Then the “New York Times” finds that the most disappointing aspect of the Republican Party's programme is the lack of a foreign policy commanding the respect of farsighted voters. Finally, Colonel Kuox, the Chicago newspaper proprietor and a leading Republican-, condemns his own party’s foremost candidate, Mr. Thomas .Dewey, for being pro-Ally on the Atlantic seaboard and isolationist elsewhere. Demanding provision for the strongest possible navy and facilities for increasing air .strength, Colonel Knox charges politicians! who cater to popular feeling with misleading the people into the belief that a wall can be built round the country. He wants the Republicans to advocate the maintenance of the Monroe Doctrine, the avoidance of aggression, and complete preparedness. Colonel Knox does not expect America to send au expeditionary force to Europe, but he insists that the United States should arm against even the possibility of a victorious Germany demanding New World colonies. The above sentiments are evoked largely by Mr. Dewey's continued preaching of extreme Isolationism. With the Republican Convention less than two months away, Mr. Dewey’s nomination is seemingly assured as he tours the country winning delegates. He is evidently convinced that Isolationist feeling predominates, because he has unequivocally recorded himself as being against the repeal of the Johnston Act, which bars credits to the Allies. '

Attacking Mr. Roosevelt in a speech in Oklahoma, Mr. Dewey said: “A pledge to keep the nation out of war admits of no temporising. It is acceptable only from men who have kept their pledged word in the past and will do so in the future.” The political shrewdness ot Mr. Dewey’s tactics is indicated by the findings of a poll conducted by a national magazine. Eighty-five per cent, of the people canvassed stated as their first demand that the next Administration should avoid war, no matter what happens short of invasion. On the other hand, Mr. Dewey is alienating influential members of his party, particularly in. the east, where opinion is faithfully reflected by Colonel Knox’s criticism. In the event of extraordinary developments in Europe, these Republican elements may thwart Mr. Dewey's nomination in favour of a more moderate candidate.

The latest Washington comment says that Mr. Roosevelt may permit the Democratic Convention to nominate him, whereupon lie will decline and dramatically pass the torch to Mr. Cordell Hull, the Secretary of State. The possibility of Mr. Roosevelt’s candidature causing an immediate business decline, to say nothing of the injection of such a potent issue 'as that bf the Third Term into an already overwrought situation, seem factors against Mr. Roosevelt running.