A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 139, 9 March 1943, Page 4

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

President Roosevelt CHANCES FOR FOURTH TERM In the past few weeks message from the United States have reported remarks by politicians regarding the possibility of President Roosevelt running as a candidate for a fourth term for the Presidency. The references have In the main been in favour of him taking such a course. In an pddress from New York Ernest K. Lindley, a regular commentator on American affairs, described the position as he saw it last weekend. ■ Mr. Lindley said that a recent “straw” poll showed a majority of voters in favour of the President serving a fourth term if the war was not concluded by the time the nominations of candidates were made by the party conventions. Mr. Lindley went further; he expressed the view that a majority of United. States citizens would favour the extension of Mr. Roosevelt’s tenure of the office to en-, able him-to carry into action his policy for the rehabilitation of the oppressed peoples of the world who have suffered under Axis occupation.

Mr. Lindley reported that when questioned at his Press conference, Mr. Roosevelt gave no answer, but “just smiled.” Looking at the situation, from the. view of the Democrats, Mr. Lindley said he failed to see a satisfactory candidate to take Mr. Roosevelt’s place. Mr. Wallace, the Vice-President, had failed to gain confidence, and Mr. Cordell Hull, 72 years, of age, was too old. Mr. Harry Hopkins also failed to measure up; while. Mr. Paul V. McNutt, who might otherwise have filled’ the vacancy, had inevitably gained unpopularity through the job he was allotted, that controlling manpower. Mr, Lindley concluded, that either Mr. Roosevelt or a Republican would occupy the presidential chair after the next election, andi mentioned tliat Mr. Wendell Willkio had definitely announced that he would offer himself for selection as Republican candidate. Post-War Reconstruction

Referring to planning for post-war reconstruction, which is likely to be discussed in the near future by an Allied conference in New York, Mr. Lindley said there were political reasons behind Mr. Roosevelt’s anxiety to prepare now. He hoped, Mr. Lindley says, to activate the United Nations for war relief and peace organization when the war ended. If this went well, there would be little chance of the United States receding from world politics after this war as they did after the last. Americans would, if Mr. Roosevelt’s hopes were realized, be already at work all over the world, and there would be no question of a snap decision causing a return to isolationism.