Words to the Heathen
MRS. ROOSEVELT'S new book mostly describes the travels—foreign missions, one might almost call them—which she undertook either officially as a UN representative or in her own right as a journalist:. In Japan she found that democracy was not being well taught.' Mr. Dulles's be- haviour to Mr. Nehru Cat heart very much an Indian as well as very much a human being') she felt to be 'unfortunate and unwise.' In Greece: 'I have never been able to understand how the people living in those hills that produce so little food could exist, but I discovered that they did get along, and with dignity.' There is something moving but overpowering in the spectacle of a rich, plain-living, plain-speaking great-grand- mother exporting 'democracy' all over the world. But I was•won over, as many of the people she interviewed must have been, by her sincere and capable reasoning, her refusal to identify herself with militaristic aspects of American policy, her willingness to state over and over again the prin- ciples of a liberal conscience to those, including her own countrymen, who had lost , or never known them. Nothing better illustrates the whole- hearted consistency between her public and pri- vate personalities than the following .exchange between her and' Mr. Khrushchev: 'Who wants war?' he had asked.
l'he governments, perhaps,' I said, 'for they do things on both sides they believe are for the defence of the people. This happens in our country and it probably happens in yours.'
It takes place in yoUrs.'
'If so,' I replied hotly, 'it also takes place in yours.'
'Definitely not in my country,' he exclaimed, gesturing angrily.
'Oh, it does,' 1 said. 'Governments are much the s:one.'
JEAN HOWARD
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