Is America Too Popular?
OLIVER, ROBERT T.
By Robert T. Oliver Is America Too Popular? Criticism of U.S. stems from great expectations How is the United States regarded by its free-world allies? This is a question that has been uppermost...
...But this is always followed by the expression of a strong hope that "America will do something to help the captive people win their freedom...
...foreign policy...
...The free world does think highly of us, but largely because it expects us to make any sacrifice necessary to prevent the Communization of the world—for we, above all others, would suffer the greatest loss in such an event...
...American magazines are not only sold everywhere in the world, but a surprising number are translated and republished in many languages— even though they have to sell at triple the price of native publications...
...Spain and Portugal: "After all, there was nothing more you could have done...
...This is a question that has been uppermost in my mind during the past ten years, in the course of seven extensive trips in the Far East and three in Europe and the Middle East...
...Switzerland, Italy...
...I have trudged many miles through the back streets of cities and villages, and ridden in second-class compartments in dozens of railways in search of the answer...
...After assuring me in a dozen ways that this was nothing but empty froth, Mag-saysay abruptly jumped up, motioned me to come with him, and took me out to a small village where an irrigation project had just been completed with American aid funds...
...Contrary to much that has been written on this subject, I find that the reservoir of good will toward the United States has not been drained dry...
...Leave it to Uncle Sam, he'll finally pull us through'' is a feeling far more prevalent in Europe and Asia than any superficial criticisms or doubt...
...The story is different—but only in detail—when we shift to the views held on U.S...
...Scanning newspaper advertisements in any country from neutralist Burma to aloof Sweden, one frequently sees the tagline "American style" or "Just like American...
...Whilo in the Philippines, I talked for several hours about this problem with the Into President Ramon Magsaysay...
...We had to move first in 1914 and 1939, when you weren't ready," they told me...
...The opportunity to criticize McCarthyism was seized upon and magnified around the world with the same zest that spices gossip in any American community about the peccadilloes of locally prominent families...
...achievements lies in the eagerness with which they adopt, adapt and imitate American products of almost every kind...
...In part, this charge has been self-protective—an attempt to justify the inability of lesser powers to engage in similar manifestations of defensive strength...
...Far more typical of real feelings is the view impressed upon me in Geneva in 1954 by a group of English foreign correspondents...
...Many foreign films, songs and periodicals compare very favorably with their American competitors, but they cannot match the magic prestige that clings to the U.S...
...I was seriously asked by an astute English businessman if it is not a fact that the averRobert T. Oliver, a veteran contributor, is a member of the economics department at Pennsylvania State U. age American family owns three automobiles...
...ARKER" fountain pen, making the period after the "P" as inconspicuous as possible...
...But only in isolated instances have I found any sign of a belief that our wealth is gained through exploitation of other countries...
...Naturally, there is some jealousy over our vastly superior wealth...
...Our misunderstanding of their occasional sharp criticisms is as naive as that of the child who threatens to leave home, fearing he is hated, merely because his hands were slapped when he was caught drawing pictures on the wallpaper...
...Unquestionably, American movies are the most popular in the world...
...Despite the efforts of Soviet propaganda, those who receive the aid (as well as their wistful neighbors who would like the same) simply refuse lo believe it is motivated by ill will...
...After a while, they explained their embarrassment...
...President Eisenhower's action in regard to the English-French invasion of Egypt was highly popular—even, to a degree, among thoughtful groups in England and France...
...So are American songs—so much so that the current jukebox favorites in Kansas City are hummed by taxi drivers in Tokyo and Calcutta and sung by teenagers from Seoul to Copenhagen...
...The widespread charge that American fear of Communism has been "hysterical" reflects attitudes we should have been able to understand...
...But this view of our material success is not snobbishly condescending...
...They pleaded that the United States must give up its "partnership" approach' to foreign policy and really lead— even to the extent of going far beyond what its allies would agree to in combating Russian aggressiveness...
...Gossip is never so entertaining as when it concerns the unquestioned aristocrats...
...Now the job is up to you...
...Canny Italians market a "P...
...If anything, the danger is not that such sentiments are too weak, but that they are too genuine and widespread...
...They certainly do not...
...I have talked with heads of state, newspapermen and diplomats...
...Convincing evidence of the real admiration Europeans and Asians feel for U.S...
...even in this situation, I was told by many people in Austria (where I happened to be when the Russians roared into Budapest with their tanks...
...Do our foreign beneficiaries really fear that the economic aid they get from us is a form of colonial control...
...In fact, it appears to be fed from an inexhaustible fountain...
...We hope you Americans will be understanding and not think too badly of us...
...In part, too, it has been diversionary—designed to divert attention from the shortcomings of weak political regimes...
...We know Nehru's policies are unpopular in America," they said...
...But we simply have to depend on Nehru's leadership to hold India together...
...It was almost pathetic to find how eagerly these independent-minded people were to hold the good opinion of Americans, which they obviously value chiefly because of their conviction that our course is right...
...We think his neutralism is shortsighted and foolish—and that Krishna Menon, in particular, is doing India and the whole free world a vast amount of harm...
...There, in a half-hour speech, he told the farmers in exact terms how much American money was spent for the pumps and pipelines, and what it would mean in family income for all of them...
...It looks to us for leadership, and its disappointment is greatest when we fail to provide it...
...If you insist on waiting until our politicians feel strong enough to make a stand, the world will be lost just as surely as it would have been if England and France had refused to challenge Hitler until America was ready to come in with them...
...The faith in American power, in American intentions and in American wisdom remains strong...
...But nowhere among the 22 million Koreans has there ever appeared anything remotely approaching anti-Americanism—there are no ankee go home" signs on the walls and no popular outcries against the (not always commendable) behavior of American troops...
...And these few expressions have been in moments of high tension—as when, during the Suez crisis, an English worker sitting beside me in London's underground asked if I thought it was true that American policy was dominated by oil producers who wanted to monopolize the European market...
...is considered the most materially successful nation that has ever existed...
...I spent an evening with a group of prosperous young Indian businessmen who were curiously ill at ease...
...product...
...He's a curious man but the only leader we have...
...Just wait, and you'll find we have always been on your side...
...Korea is one country that has strongly disagreed with what it considers U.S...
...The fact is, we don't like them, either...
...I had another revealing encounter in New Delhi, in late September 1956...
...appeasement" of the Russians—particularly in signing a truce which left the Red Chinese armies in North Korea...
...These recommendations may refer to cosmetics, electric sweepers, radios or raincoats...
...One cannot overestimate the importance of good food, warm clothing, solid housing and adequate medical care to the two billion people around the world who are not even sure of having enough to eat—and who, when they see their one suit of clothes wearing out, realize it will take anywhere from two months to a year to earn enough to buy another...
...There was no doubt that they were with him, and even Mag-saysay's bitterest political foes freely concede that he would have been re-elected in 1958...
...Considering the high regard in which the United States is held around the free world, can we Americans safely assume that the cold war is going well and is certain to be won...
...Manila was a good city in which to raise the subject, for Mag-saysay's political rivals talked loudly and often about the "imperialism" of American military bases and economic programs in the Islands...
...Where our prestige has suffered most has been in our failure to take any similar positive action in dealing with the far more tragic events in Hungary...
...This is the real problem...
...The U.S...
...The answer must be a resounding No...
...Our standard of living is not only accepted for what it is, it is generally greatly exaggerated by foreign observers...
...This is not because talent is scarce outside the United States...
...In part, it has been the relaxed chattering of nations which feel safer than we do—but only because of their knowledge of the deterrent power of our weapons and policies...
...United States generosity is commonly regarded almost with awe, for no other country is able even remotely to afford such a luxury of self-abnegation...
...We are so well liked, so trusted, so genuinely admired that our allies feel no more restraint in criticizing us than loving parents do in scolding a child...
...What we have principally to contend with is not a growing antagonism of peoples around the world, but an increasing dependence upon us which loads us with a responsibility we have not yet shown ourselves ready to assume...
Vol. 40 • April 1957 • No. 16
