Feb. 18.
Albeit intended primarily for home consumption, Mr. William Phillips' comprehensive exposition of the attitude of the United States. of America in world affairs cannot but attract studious attention abroad. Mr. Phillips naturally is concerned to present his Government's policy in a favourable light, but he cannot be accused of in-bulging in mere propagandist rhetoric. He gives a sober appreciation of the realities to be faced by the American people end he justifies the principle of "good neighbour-Tines" accordingly. His speech gives evidence of the conviction that public opinion in America is highly critical of any foreign entanglements. Hence, in stressing America's readiness to. protect her citizens under international law, he is equal ly careful to disclaim countenance of the use of "superior force to intervene in the internal affairs of weaker nations." The tribute paid to Mr. Cordell Hull for his admire able labours in removing the suspicion of Latin America filly recognizes a notable feature in the: development of America's affairs in recent years. The Slate Department has ground for legitimate satisfaction in that solid contribution to world stability, not only in. the direct results achieved but also' jin the example thus set to other' continents, This policy, to which the welcome strengthening of economic "relations with Canada is a corollary, marches with the consistent endeavour to keep the United States of America free of political commitments overseas. Mr. Phillips senses the prevalent feeling which has found so strong an expression in the discussion of the neutrality legislation. The American citizen, convinced that his country was unnecessarily drawn into the late War by the combined effects of trade! operations and propaganda, says to his representative in Congress: "it! must never happen again." shall say that the sentiment is not. Justified, even if the interpretation which inspires It is open to question?
Few nations to-day can be invited to take the really long view in international affairs, 'That is why the strain of acute nationalism is being' so strongly felt, even in America where interest in the doings of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia is by no means inactive, as the existence of the Council on Foreign Relations to which Mr. Phillips was addressing himself plainly shows. Governments, the world over, cannot readily obtain support for their: policies unless they keep within reasonable contact of immediate happenings. It would be easy to point out that the interdependence of nations cannot be permanently' ignored, but it would be not quite 0 easy' to adduce grounds for requiring the United States of Amer-fea to exercise that strength of vision in advance of most other countries at this particular juncture. Mr. Phillips has shown that the State Department is well-equipped to appreciate the trends of thought and policy in the world. It may be assumed that its resources will be at the disposal of the Government when the time comes for a further step to be taken in consolidating international cooperation. In that respect recent developments Great Britain may be interpreted, mutatis mutandis, as indicating the emergence of a similar line of conduct. In fact, although the two Anglo-Saxon countries are moving, as it were, in different orbits, their respective outlooks are focussed alike. Those who would force the pace of a closer collaboration should be consoled thereby, while exercise ing due diffidence in adjusting their expectations. For the people of the United States of America are still faced with grim problems for the solution of which reliance on their own genius and their own institutions is their natural course of faction. In thus working out their destiny they have been provided by Mr. Phillips with the relevant statement of present Issues, so as his Government now judges it politic to be explicit. The doctor /who prescribes too strong a dose for his patient is liable 10 be baulked of the desired recovery.
This caution is evident in Mr.
Phillips' patient exposure of the extreme expression of protectionist policy. The time is not ripe to do; more than advocate the use of trade agreements to mitigate the economic ils of high tariffs, the recognition of which is to be found rather in the select literature of the banking corporation than in the popular press. Yet Mr. Phillips was frank Jenough to point out that the ideas Jot certain extremists, it adopted, would lead inevitably to "revolu-Wionary renunciation of _foreign markets" for the very products [which America must sell abroad, Equally cautious is the eState Department's attitude toward the course of events in the Far East, 'The "open door" receives a passing, note of explanation. Small encour agement is given to the chauvinists whos voices were lately heard in. the US. Senate, "Equality of commercial' opportunity" is the definition to which the American Gov-jemment adheres. Conformity with this frame of mind is to be discerned in America's dealings with another part of the world. The references to the Soviet Government expound it fully. While trading relations on strictly commercial lines are welcomed, the United States refuses to base them on inter governmental pacts and is also determined to make those relations dependent on due regard for the} American people's right to. direct their internal affairs, free of foreign interference. There can be little doubt that the Soviet Government, will be best studying its own interests by paying proper heed to this friendly, but. firm definition of "good neighbourliness." In_ taking this line, the United States of America has rendered service to the world in general and, it Is to bbe hoped, to the continued progress of the Russian people in consolidat~ Ing their internal economic and political achievements. That passage the speech will certainly be read with warm approval in South America where the problem of communist propaganda has been acute fof late. Statesmantike breadth of view is not disdained by Mr. Phillips in directing American attention to American policy. He has managed to combine his solicitude for national support of that policy with a lively appreciation of the portance of maintaining America's place in the international direction of affairs, without detriment to the special principles by which, in the! spirit of democratic tradition, his Government has to be guided. Critics may aver that there has been marked resilement from the spacious internationalism of twenty] years ago. If the critics look around them, can they be greatly surprised? The process of recovery, gradually asserting itself, will apply the remedy, for, again taking the! ong view, the' influence of the United States of America on world affairs must eventually assert itself commrensurately with the intrinsic vigour and capacity of her people.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.