REPUBLICANS: Let Them Hunt

The Republican unity achieved at Mackinac on the enormously difficult problem of a sound American foreign policy is a “profoundly significant and prophetic phenomenon in the life of the Republic—and deserves the open-minded consideration of all Americans.”

So argued Michigan’s Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg last week in a speech on the Mackinac “achievement.” He said:

“The Mackinac Charter was framed . . . with the hope . . . that it may substantially invite the allegiance of all Americans, regardless of party, so that partisan bitterness may be eliminated from foreign-policy discussions. . . .

“It is my view that the Mackinac Charter has done one basic, superlatively important thing which is sadly needed if we are to have any sort of common national vision in foreign policy. … It has put down in black and white the basic truth that Americans can constructively contemplate their world duties without sacrificing their American allegiance. . . .

“In my view, this is what the average American has been waiting to hear. …”

Unity of Party. “There are those who are striving to prove that ‘somebody’ got ‘plowed under’ at Mackinac—either the so-called ‘interventionists’ or the so-called ‘noninterventionists’ of yesterday. The answer is that nobody got plowed under. There was a rational, tolerant meeting of patriotic minds upon wholly compatible philosophies of action which complement each other. That spells unity. . .”

Middle Course. “The Mackinac Charter . . . charts the great middle course of sanity and reason to which 95% of our people can subscribe. . .

“Some say that the Mackinac Charter is too indefinite in details. Let them hunt for details in the so-called Atlantic Charter. Let them hunt for details in the able exposition of the Secretary of State one week ago. Let them hunt for details in the well-known Fulbright Resolution (see col. one). Let them hunt for greater details in any pronouncement by any other great political party. They will hunt in vain.”