Ref: MAT2_B10 |
Part B -10. |
B.10 Background: Policy Change from pre war
reflected in 1947.
|
Parallel
Lives : Jack and Wanda, Wanda and Jack |
[Subtitled: A Davis-Keefe, Canadian-American Experience |
]
B.10 Background:
Policy Change from pre war reflected in 1947.............................. 1 1. Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 1 2. How
things change during the 1920’s and 1930’s...................................................................... 1 3. End
of War - a change regarding realities and possibilities....................................... 3 4. Charnow’s explanation of the
establishment of UNICEF 5 In the President’s Peace Treaties - Senate
Consideration 6 President Truman's Speech on
“Peace, Freedom and World Trade” 7 Speech on the UN and
Collective Security 7 5. Conclusion: A change from surreptitious to direct
advocacy for intervention 8 |
Jack Keefe as noted in the
interviews was a self proclaimed interventionist even before WW2. He and Wanda Davis
Keefe could be expected to have undergone some changes, because of their
experiences outside their native countries during this time. However, there was
also a great change for most of their fellow citizens of the
Though many people were not doing well even during the “Roaring Twenties”, the general feeling of the “new Era” was that the least control of the commercial sector was the best approach. This approach assumed that if successful businessmen were allowed to proceed under their own guidance eventually everyone would benefit. Over time the imbalance of the economic system demonstrated to many that more control was required. Even President Hoover, who had a [not completely deserved] reputation of not caring for people was on record as supporting government intervention when necessary. “If the time should ever come that the voluntary agencies of the country together with the local state governments are unable to find resources with which to prevent hunger and suffering in my country, I will ask the aid of every resource of the Federal Government….”. [B10-N01]
There was concern that a desperate growing minority might choose radical alternatives of state fascism, communism or dictatorship. During the great depression the average person was becoming progressively more sympathetic with drastic solutions. “I am neither an anarchist, socialist, or communist –but by God, at times. More importantly this great experimenter knew what many Americans wanted to hear in 1932. A few years previously they would have rejected significant structural change - but by now they had “seen enough attempts at roof repair and were anxious for some foundation work”. [B10-N02]
The acceptance of increased government action
was not the only change. It seems a subtler realization was becoming part of
the common knowledge and it had to do with relationships of all kinds. Many citizens had come to see how
interdependent they were and the need for all to give something to the process.
This practical experience of interconnectedness and of common need led some of
the American intelligentsia of the thirties to look to various philosophical
systems. Marx’s Writings were
considered. However, there were strong reservations about how a system
supposedly based on Marxism was being implemented in
Because of the tragic experiences of the depression, [as well as the dust bowl etc.] there was a growing realization that there must be some “subordination of personal ambition and greed to common plans and purposes.” All this ferment led to a growing feeling by 1937 that there needed to be some redistribution of wealth. “The federal government should follow a policy of taking money from those who have much and giving money to those who have little.” As noted above this was based not on an ideology – just rejection of greed and the excesses of the business community, which led many toward values through which they could “remoralise” the American economy and society. [B10-N04]
One such effort was the increased support for fair labor standards. When in the mid 1930’s a Fair Labor Act was passed, child labor was outlawed in interstate commerce. This was significant step in legally recognizing the special status of childhood that should not be manipulated for commercial gain. [B10-N05]
Toward the end of the war there was a sense of idealism and a public expressed belief in practical approaches to peace and justice. As mentioned above going into the war there were a number of forces at work that had changed the general sense of isolation and limited self concern which permeated a major segment of decision makers and the general public in the USA during the 1920’s and 30’s. Many people had a shared experience of the depression and now had had certain experiences reinforced by the war years. What had previously been isolated experiences were now made more understandable for greater numbers of people due to increased communication, newsreels and radio. At first individuals believed these forces [economic depression and war] were beyond control. The American belief in individual initiative and freedom was consistently supported. However it became clearer to a majority that checks were required to prevent avoidable hardships for the vulnerable.
There was increased governmental control in support of the war effort [rationing, wage and price controls]. But there was also further legitimizing of the right of people to join together for common good. [Labor unions; volunteer organizations in support of war or alternative service and relief efforts.] The activities during the war broadened the cosmopolitan experience of:
-
the armed
service people [most notably if they’d been stationed overseas and exposed to
different cultures] and
-
Others who had
moved or changed their work in support of the war effort.
Some of the public now understood the devastation of war more graphically via news clips etc. and personally via the stories and letters of loved ones [who did or did not return]. They understood better that war should be avoided if possible.
The New Deal and Programs during
the war to stimulate production were not a total success. However, it was
generally accepted that many people had been assisted and production
increased. More of the public came to
believe that a minimum level of security for everyone was fair and just and
governmental intervention was necessary to guarantee this goal. The rule of law
in the
What was the position of the US
Government after the war? Did the
promises, plans and early idealistic statements of “Dr. New Deal” and
internationalism of “Dr.Win the War”
still have attraction with a new president’s administration in the late 1940’s
after the war?
I wanted to review some official
USA pronouncements and choose a Department of State Bulletin [DSB] from 15
years after the new deal election of 1932 [1947, the year I was born]. I was
initially drawn to the 1947 DSB issue because it contained an account by John
Charnow of the establishment of the International Children’s Fund during the
previous year. The DSB issue also included [B10-N06] - The speech of the
-
A section on Senate consideration for the Peace Treaties with Italy, Bulgaria
Rumania and Hungary including the two statements from the former and new
Secretary of State.
- The
-
A speech on the United Nations and “the Goal of Collective Security” by
All of the articles stressed the
benefits of intervention and involvement in the issues of the world. There is
awareness that
Jack Charnow praises the “flexibility of the
charter in allowing for development of new organizational forms to meet the
emerging needs in the social field” and notes the practical help to be provided
in promoting solutions of international social problems. He also points out that UNICEF constitutes
the first instance of the creation of a grant-in-aid program for material
assistance and an organizational form in the social field. There appears to be a parallel in design
between US State relationship to US Federal Programs and UN International
Programs relationship to National Programs.
Within each country the responsibility rests with appropriate [National]
governmental authorities, voluntary agencies and individual citizens..The
purpose [of the International e.g. UNICEF is] …providing sufficient
supplementary assistance, where needed, to make national programs of child
welfare a reality.
The Economic and Social Council
resolution originally limited the scope of the Fund to children and adolescents
of countries, which were victims of aggression. However, as a result of
President Truman noted the
difficulty of achieving permanent peace and security
but that peace was a common objective to
people everywhere. While addressing non-intervention, he noted that this did
not mean indifference to what goes on beyond our own borders since events in one
country have a profound effect in other countries. “The community of nations
feels concern at the violation of accepted principles of national behavior by
any one of its members. The lawlessness of one nation may threaten the very
existence of the law on which all nations depend.” [B10-N08]
On the occasion of Senate
consideration Peace Treaties the
former and new
During the USA President’s speech
on “Peace, Freedom and World Trade” at Baylor University in WACO Tex; he points
out that in order to live at peace , we must join other nations to organize the
world for peace since science and invention have left us no alternative. A very impressive expose of the economic
causes of the war follow. He notes that
nobody won the last economic war of the thirties. The result became more
apparent from the tariff policy of
Hawley-Smoot, the system of imperial preferences, and elaborate and
detailed restrictions adopted by Nazi Germany. Nations strangled normal trade
around the world. “Who among their peoples were the gainers? Not the depositors
who lost their savings in the failures of banks. Not the farmers who lost their
farms. Not the millions who walked the streets looking for work. I do not mean
to say that economic conflict was the sole cause for the depression. But I do
say that it was major cause.” [B10-N10] To add depth beyond economic concerns he mentions that
freedom of worship and freedom of speech have been most frequently enjoyed in
those societies that have a considerable measure of freedom for individual
enterprise and where power has been dispersed and not too centralized. Devotion
to freedom of enterprise in the
In the speech on the United Nations and “The
Goal of Collective Security” by Warren R. Austin [US Representative to
the Untied Nations] he explains that we must seek understanding with our allies
and avoid hysteria and recrimination. Also we should seek by our policies to
remove fear in others and replace it by confidence. The problem of building collective security has two inseparable
parts: first to take every measure to
remove the fundamental causes of war and to establish conditions of mutual
understanding and confidence and economic well-being; while also simultaneously
maintaining a suitable military posture to support collective action under the UN
Charter. [B10-N11]
The Depression and WWII caused a
significant change in the American awareness. Before World War Two the
President and his advisors had to devise ways to surreptitiously commit
American Forces to support intervention. After the War there was a public
understanding of the need to remain engaged. The institutions created after the
war to assist the International community were impacted by this American experience
of the Depression and both World Wars. The US Government representatives after
the War made a significant contribution to building for world recovery and
global security. They were direct in expressing to the
End Notes
End Note [EN] Part-Sect-Note |
Author |
Source & Link to Bibliography in Part G |
Abbreviated reference to Source |
Page |
B10-N01 |
McElvaine Robert S.. |
TGD |
Pp 051 |
|
B10-N02 |
McElvaine Robert S.. |
TGD |
Pp 081, 117 |
|
B10-N03 |
McElvaine Robert S.. |
TGD |
Pp 221 |
|
B10-N04 |
McElvaine Robert S.. |
TGD |
Pp 205, 210, 223 |
|
B10-N05 |
McElvaine Robert S.. |
TGD |
Pp 304 |
|
B10-N06 |
Superintendent of Documents, |
The Department of State Bulletin, Vol XVI, No
402 Publication 2779 |
DSB2779 |
|
B10-N07 |
Superintendent of Documents, |
The Department of State Bulletin, Vol XVI, No
402 Publication 2779 |
DSB2779 |
Pp 492 |
B10-N08 |
Superintendent of Documents, |
The Department of State Bulletin, Vol XVI, No
402 Publication 2779 |
DSB2779 |
Pp 490 |
B10-N09 |
Superintendent of Documents, |
The Department of State Bulletin, Vol XVI, No 402
Publication 2779 |
DSB2779 |
Pp 489 |
B10-N10 |
Superintendent of Documents, |
The Department of State Bulletin, Vol XVI, No
402 Publication 2779 |
DSB2779 |
Pp 481 |
B10-N11 |
Superintendent of Documents, |
The Department of State Bulletin, Vol XVI, No
402 Publication 2779 |
DSB2779 |
Pp 475 |