THE WELTANSCHAUUNG OF HENRY WALLACE
Thompson, Dorothy
On the Record: The WELTANSCHAUUG of HENRY WALLACE By Dorothy Thompson Inlernalinnaliy-knoivn Writer and Political Analyst 1AM IN RECEIPT of a letter from Harold Young, on the letterhead...
...Young's compliment that I am one of the "sincere liberals...
...When I say I believe in civil liberties, I mean, not vague gen< rnl./.ations like the Four Freedoms, but SUSSt things like those enumerated in the Amcricmi Bill of Rights, chief of which 1 consider to be the right of the Immunity of the person against arrest and incarceration except under specific indictment ami for crimes defined by luw,i I believe that every human being, furthermore, should be exempt from liquidation for things for winch he is not responsible, such as being born into a certain lace, or class...
...There is no hope for -this folk...
...Its corruption is too deep...
...Young, noting in a Manning obsequious tone that I am one of the •sincere liberals" whose names were ? "in-d to the cablegram to Mr...
...A country that prepares for war hy giving away key strategic positions in behalf of peace is a country run by numskulls...
...Ernest Bevin, sponsored by the Socialist New Leader, is as curious a misinterpretation of my views as the collection of signers who refer to themselves as •American Liberals...
...A HOPELESS FOLK...
...In my old age I wind finally lo find some peace, and I dream of a house on Lake Geneva...
...That course holds great dangers and is completely incompatible with Mr...
...1 AM not prepared to wage war for the Four Freedoms everywhere In the world...
...Mr...
...Our "liberals," however, and preeminent among them ths dreamy-eyed Mr...
...Wallace's fantasy) is plain nonsense...
...flrst of all, I am annoyed by Mr...
...4) that the USA should be groomed for the role of "aggressor" by an international war of nerves campaign against Americans" as "Fascist reactionaries" and "dollar imperialists...
...There is an alternative which might conceivably work, and that is to seek to buy Russian isolationism, which ia what we want, for American isolationism, which is what the Russians want That would be highly popular "everywhere in the world" because there is nothing the world wants 'more than.to be let alone by both the USA and the USSR...
...Whether we like the Russians or not, vw have only two ultimate cnuiaes...
...I stand for civil liberties everywhere...
...Wallace's statement of his international stand: I find it is political hobble-gobble, likely to be popular with what "liberals" call the "masses," because it comfortably but illogically manages to stiaddle the fence and make the best of two worlds...
...If Mr...
...Wallace's program—as stated in the letter on which I am asked to comment—certainly will not work...
...I do not think the USSR is going to wage war on the United States because it does not like my columns...
...astrologers and prophets...
...it would mean the establishment, not of "spheres of influence," but of great "spheres of non-interference...
...Never again do 1 care to address myself to (iermany, not even to the (German youth...
...The only prize that we are likely to get from such a policy, which is the negation of policy, is the boobyprise—after we have exploded ourselves in a booby-trap...
...The Soviet Union believes (11 that there will, in every probability, Ire another war...
...Finally, there is no policy whalertt that doe* not include the risk ol war...
...Here in (iermany 1 see nothing but n complete spiritual chaos...
...Bevin (supporting in general bis foreign policy), asks for my comment...
...Wallace made to a cable addressed to Ernest Bevin by contributors to The New Leader anJ others...
...I also believe people should be immune from punishment for things they think but do not commit...
...I am not, however, prepared to do what some of our "liberals" sincere or not sincere—at* doing, namely, undermine all moral and intellectual in"fkyrity within this country by pretending that the Four Freedoms exist where they do not exist, lor the sake of flattering the Soviet Union and "avoiding war...
...1 am glad to give it, not merely privately, but publicly...
...I think the quest for Utopia and Universal Systems is what has already ti ought on the age of Caesarism and world wars, and is blotting out, not only the Four Freedoms, but the Tea Decencies over most of the globe...
...One is to make war on them...
...And I believe that men should ot be deprived of legally acquired property except hy due pica-ess of law...
...Wallace wants us to "find a way to live with the Russians—who do not believe in advancing the Four Freedoma everywhere or anywhere while intervening for the Four Freedoms and civil liberties everywhere in the world...
...But none of our One World brethren want any...
...It consists of leading us toward war by universal interventionism on behalf of the Four Freedoms, while weakening our rapacity to wage war by falling in with the Russian campaign against our evil intentions...
...I am not surprised to And myself besot by Tiihe'a Henry Luce, Neienweek's Malcolm Muir, N.B.O.'s Hans Kaltenborn, Header's Digext't Stanley High, Herbert Bayard Swope, Bishop Manning, and Father Camion...
...Once again the youth Is turning to myslagogues...
...I also note that Mr...
...And the only alternative, says Mr...
...And I am writing as I do, not to influence ths USSR- for i know the limits of possibilities—but to keep my own heud clear about thinga that are important, if not to all civilisations, then certainly to Ml own...
...Since I observe the growing number of "liberals" who accept or condone violations of the most primary civil rights it' these violations are committed in behalf, of Some "new and better" world...
...I have far too high an opinion of Soviet leaders to- believe that...
...The other is to find a way to live in the world with them while striving to advance the Four Freedoms everywhere in the world...
...He ought to advocate that tha United States make herself enormously strong, key her economy to self-sufficiency, and raise the old revolutionary flag of the rattlesnake, with the caption, "Don't Tread on Me...
...I shall continue to fight for it...
...Wallace's comment was as follows: "The cable addressed to the Rt...
...For his own protection it was necessary to quarter a handful of American troops with him "If Adolf Hitler were to reappear tomorrow," Wiechert said, "some t>0 to 80 percent of this people would welcome him with open arms...
...thing as modest as that...
...2) that in anticipation of that war it is essential that the USSR put herself in the best possible position successfully to wage it...
...My only consolation comes from the outside world, from former Jewish students of mine in East Prussia, who now survive In Palestine, Hungary, England, Mexico and America...
...Wallace concludes his highly paradoxical statement by giving notice that he intends to continue to "fight" for his combinal urn of Russian jdacation and universal inlci eentioniam...
...3) that tactical retreat is preferable to a new war under present conditions, but that all retreats shall be for a quid pro quo...
...Wallace wants, above everything else, to avoid any possibility of conflict with Russia oi with "X", indicating unknown but always potential enemies—he ought at least to he logical and take a firm stand sa a total isolationist...
...I can only say that if the United States is preparing for an aggressive world war, all our political leaders should be fired instantly...
...I have repeatedly stated that I am against all imperialism, Russian, British, ar Amercian...
...That would not fit in with "getting on with Russia" plus universal interventionism for the Four Freedoms...
...The way, in my opinion, to avoid that war, if it can be avoided, is, first, to keep our shirts on and not be too greatly impressed...
...who do not shudder when a man is deprived of all means of living because he happens to have been born an aristocrat or be a little more conservative—or revolutionary—than the selfappointed Roman censors of our age...
...I would rather desc.ibe myself as an old-fashioned American radical...
...I am surprised that such an attack is advanced in the guise of liberalism and that the sincere liberals who joined with them in signing this document should have allowed their names to be used in this fashion...
...who can condone or overlook penal camps for political dissidents if they happen to be in the USSR...
...I want js leave this land...
...I reject the arrogance of a position that thus seeks to *< pa rate sheep' from goals by inquisitional omniscience...
...The Russians, at least, have the sense and courage to face this fact...
...Wallace, think we can have the cake of Utopia for nothing— that we will get it, all frosted with the Four Freedoms, as a prize for being good boys...
...and, fifth, by making it perfectly clear to ourselves— if we can think so precisely—where the limits of our interests and power are...
...In an interview which has been published in the Stockholm TUninaen and the Bund ot Berne, Ernst Wierhert, i poet and anti-Nazi, and one of (Germany's leading literary personalities, confesses that he is considered a j"traitor" in his homeland...
...If he to net careful, he wiQ certainly have to tight for it—and with the American pants down...
...I have grer' respect for the Russian leaders, who display ability to think logically, and do not feel it necessary to apologize to other countries for their policies...
...Peace with Russia plus universal American interventionism (and seventy million new foreign customers to be found without dollar imperialism—also part of Mr...
...For if we are going to intervene, we shall have to intervene with power, ami with powerpolitics, since that is the only intervention worth anything...
...The Russians never let it out of their perspective for a moment...
...Wallace, is a war, which, he takes for granted, the USA will start...
...The author id Der Tntrmcald, a shattering documentary of Buchenwald, has been ! threatened and the windows of his |house in the Starnberger-Sce have been broken...
...I very much doubt whether I am a "liberal" at all, as liberalism characterizes and reveals itself in these days...
...NoW, as to Mr...
...1 believe in limitations to economic power, where economic power strangles opportunity: I believe in this so sincerely that I believe that even trade unions should enjoy liberty «"ly under law and become restrained when they exercise the power to strangle dp: oitunity...
...On the Record: The WELTANSCHAUUG of HENRY WALLACE By Dorothy Thompson Inlernalinnaliy-knoivn Writer and Political Analyst 1AM IN RECEIPT of a letter from Harold Young, on the letterhead of Henry A. Wallace, asking ine to comment on the comment which Mr...
...Now, if the United States is going to intervene all over the globe in behalf of the Four Freedoms, the United States is going to risk war...
...I believe in strict limit** t'ons on the power of the state and in liberty under law...
...Wallace's previous history on interventionism, but it is at least a program which is comprehensible...
...second, by no diminution of American strength...
...third, by a careful calculation of risks...
...In common with the great majority of the Ameiivaii people, I am in favor of the latter course...
...fourth, by making clear to the USSR—preferably quietly— that there are very serious risks which she also should consider...
...It knows only greed, hatred^ and envy...
...who insist, for instance, that the Four Freedoms which do not exist in Spain, do exist in Poland—or that it does not matter because Poland is suppressing them for worthy motives—1 very much doubt whether I want to be counted with "liberals...
...They arc hellbent for Utopia, cost what it may...
Vol. 30 • March 1947 • No. 12
