The Dominion MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1941. THE COURSE OF UNITED STATES POLICY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 180, 28 April 1941, Page 6

The Dominion MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1941. THE COURSE OF UNITED STATES POLICY

In the latest statements by President Roosevelt, Mr. Cordell Hull (Secretary of State), and Colonel Knox (Secretary for War) is revealed the impact of recent events in the war upon United States policy. The Lease and Lend Act carried the republic a long step from the attitude of strict neutrality adopted at the outbreak of the war. It marked the progress of American public opinion from debated suspicions of Axis designs on the Western Hemisphere to a settled conviction that these designs constituted a definite and most serious menace to the Americas, and that the best means of dealing with it was to give all possible help to Britain and the other surviving democracies. The logic of the, situation, in fact, had made it abundantly clear to the Administration, to Congress, and to the nation as a whole, that passive vigilance must give place to positive measures. Having made this portentous decision the American people have now been carried by the irresistible pressure of events to the threshold of a new situation, involving a further possible advance in positive •action. As will be seen from various statements it is realized that the Lease and Lend Act will not be fully effective in its purpose unless the enormous shipments of war material to Britain sent foiward under its authority reach their destination with the least possible percentage of loss. To a practical people, extremely thoroughgoing tvhen they have set themselves to a course of action, the possibility of loss through enemy action in the Atlantic raises a new problem which ought to be faced and solved, and the question of American convoys is being actively canvassed. Mr. Wendell Willkie is quite emphatic on the point that the shipments should be protected. Such a step would unquestionably be of, immense assistance to Britain during this critical period in the Battle of the Atlantic when the enemy is using his utmost efforts to cripple our transport and prevent American assistance from reaching the United Kingdom. But a great decision is involved, and though the Administration leaders are obviously impressed by the need for it, it is a decision which to be really and fully effective would naturally require the backing of,.a strong public opinion/ for it requires little imagination to see that it would bring the United States to the fringe of war. The President, in a very guarded statement, says that the Government is not thinking of escorting convoys of merchantmen to Britain,-but that the United States neutrality patrol would operate as far into the waters of the Seven Seas as might be necessary for the defence of the Western Hemisphere. Further than that he has declined to. go, though pressed to amplify the statement in the light of what Mr. Hull and Colonel Knox had to say on- the same subject. Mr. Hull declared that the policy of aid to Britain" required that this aid “must swiftly reach its destination —so means must be found to do this.” Colonel Knox, however, emphasized more bluntly that the logical sequence of events must carry American policy with ,jt:

Having gone this far (he said), we Can only go on. Hitler cannot allow our ■ war supplies and food to reach England. He will be defeated if they do. We cannot allow our goods to be sunk in the Atlantic. We shall be beaten if we do. We must make good our promise to aid Britain. We must see the job through. All of this is needed for our own safety and our future security.

From the indications in the foregoing remarks it would seem possible that an important'development in United States policy is impending. - The President’s reference to the possibility, of Greenland being partly occupied by Axis forces brings the menace of aggression nearer home to the American people. As Senator Brewster puts it: “I guess we are beginning to recognize the facts of life.”