U.S. At War: No Confidence

Throughout most of three terms the Administration has enjoyed overwhelming press support for its foreign policy. This may have been because of understanding, misunderstanding or indifference. But coincident with a lively interest in the subject, press approval of Administration foreign policy has declined faster than stocks in a Wall Street crash—from 80% support to 20%. As recorded by the Twohey Analysis of Newspaper Opinion, the chief objections are:

¶ The U.S.-British failure to clarify a policy toward Europe in general and Russia in particular—a situation which has a depressing effect on postwar talks.

¶ The Roosevelt policy toward France and De Gaulle. The press has strongly disapproved the subjection of a postinvasion regime of France to General Eisenhower’s arbitrary decisions.

¶ Censorship: the press heartily approved Palmer Hoyt’s suggestion for a Senate investigation of censorship.