17 APRIL 1947, Page 5

The earnest and universal desire of Americans, I find, whether

they share Mr. Henry Wallace's views or not, is to drive it deep into the understanding of every Englishman that Mr. Wallace in America represents no one but himself. That, I fancy, is truer than we should normally realise. President Wilson once said that the office made the man, in a context which showed his meaning to be that when the man goes out of office his influence drops by fifty per cent. or more. For that reason Mr. Wallace, as Secretary of Agriculture or Secretary of Commerce, was a political force. Mr. Wallace, as Editor of the New Republic (whose circula- tion in relation to the size of the population is trifling) is just Editor of the New Republic. However, he has hitched his waggon to a new star ; and that may make all the difference. He is, I under- stand, just off to Scandinavia in harmonious partnership with Mr. Zilliacus.