A turning point in United States foreign policy came with the sinking of the Panay, Before that time it Wag pursued patiently and consistently but whenever pulled up short by public opinion no effort was made to proceed, or cut loose from its restricting bonds. There was, cal fight over the World Court membership proposal, no real fight secure w discretionary neutrality fet instead of one which insists fitgressor and vielim must be treated alike, The President at Chicago made his famous reference to the ced of pulling aggressor states in "quarantine" but made no effort to follow up the idea by vigorously opposing those who criticised it During the Brussels conference the campaign in favour of peace-at-any-price ud isolation went on uncheck fed by any official efforts. But with the sinking of the Panay the convietion was born upon the Administration that a_ strong active vigorous and continuous campaign must be conducted by the responsible officials of the Administration and their supporters in congress to counter-act the propaganda of the well-organized lobbies campaigning against their Administration's. policy.
Speeches and statements of opponents in Congress were not allowed to go" unanswered. Newspapermen were urged by government officials not to allow polities to enter into their accounts of Foreign policy but to. place patriotism above party. The fullest possible publicity was. given {tg official negotiations on the grounds that when the pubic knew the facts iq would support its government. A Yesolution proposed by Congressman Ludlow to make a referendum neces: ary before war could be declared 'Was openly opposed by the Administ-Fallen' from the President down. A majority of Congressmen lid decid to vote for it feeling that it was harmless gesture in favour of war, Sut' tu face' of "Administration, Cears that the vole" would be considered abroad as a test of public support for the Administrations conduct of For-feign Polley many' of them changed their minds and the attempt to bring he suggestion to debate wes defeated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.