THE IMPERIAL YEARS

by Foster Rhea Dulles ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 29, 1956

From 1885, when Mr. Cleveland took office, through Theodore Roosevelt's administration, the United States grew progressively more imperialistic, and these are the years on which Foster Dulles has concentrated. It is interesting to note that almost consistently, presidential campaigns and party platforms would seem to deny any such aims and ambitions; there was recurrent insistence on maintaining the traditional detachment from matters outside our boundaries. And then, as circumstances seemed to create new needs, strange reorientations of policy took place, ""manifest destiny"" see claimed as a moral responsibility, the crises over Samoa, Hawaii, Cub, and subsequently, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Panama each in turn was rather smugly justified. Dulles records the emotional climate of each shift; the nationalization- politically, morally (with economic factors muted); the change of front as we accepted a national verdict of expansionist policies-cum responsibility to sustain the ""open door"" principle in China, the rescuing of captive people and so on. While there is a note of cynicism now and again, this is offset by a real conviction that over the years we have redeemed our pledges in a far-sighted colonial policy and a granting of political freedom. A valuable contribution to our history.

Pub Date: Oct. 29, 1956

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Crowell

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1956

Categories: NONFICTION