SLOGANS IN FOREIGN POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23578, 15 August 1938, Page 18

SLOGANS IN FOREIGN POLICY

Speaking before the Carolina Institute of International Relations, Mr William T. Stone, vice-president of the Foreign Policy Association, sounded a warning against the uncritical acceptance of such slogans as “ democracy versus dictatorship ” and “ isolation versus collective action ” in the current debate on American foreign policy. Such slogans served only to confuse the central issues confronting the United States to-day. “ The central fact in the international situation,” Mr Stone asserted, “is that the world lias reverted to a period of power politics on a scale probably never before known. Japan has challenged the status quo and upset the balance of power in the Far East; Germany is upsetting the balance of power in Europe, and the United States is being urged to use its powfer and influence to redress the balance. American public opinion, which will be the decisive factor in shaping the course of American foreign policy.” Mr Stone added, “ will do well to ponder the question whether aligning the democracies against the dictatorships will preserve peace or democracy.”