Walter Lippmann and the American Century — 31 Panic and Bungling

1. 1. Lippmann argued that the entire West Coast should be considered a combat zone, requiring everyone to prove their right to be there, thus justifying the removal of Japanese-Americans.
2. 2. Lippmann blamed the administration for the hysteria over Japanese-Americans, telling Biddle they had only themselves to blame.
3. 3. Lippmann later claimed the evacuation was necessary to protect Japanese-Americans from hysterical mobs, not for security reasons.
4. 4. Lippmann noted that from listening to Lord Halifax, many Americans believed the war in Asia was for the defense of archaic privilege, not liberation.
5. 5. Lippmann praised de Gaulle's resistance movement and condemned Frenchmen who capitulated, calling their ingratiation with victors a terrible mistake.
6. 6. Lippmann called on Washington to recognize de Gaulle's organization as necessary for a Western front and to assure French support for the Allied landings.
7. 7. Lippmann described de Gaulle as the acknowledged leader of the French war of independence, comparable to George Washington.
8. 8. Lippmann admitted he could not write dispassionately about de Gaulle, whom he had admired since June 1940.
9. 9. Lippmann admired de Gaulle's feeling that he incarnated France, comparing it to Theodore Roosevelt's embodiment of America and Nehru's of India.
10. 10. Lippmann bitterly objected to the deal giving Admiral Darlan political authority over North Africa, calling it a betrayal of Allied principles.
11. 11. Lippmann charged that an unreasoning prejudice against de Gaulle among U.S. officials was the greatest obstacle to uniting French resistance groups.
12. 12. Lippmann blamed the North African muddle on Robert Murphy's bad advice, calling him a man who formed passionate attachments rather than cool judgments.
13. 13. Lippmann warned that Roosevelt's pettiness toward de Gaulle would estrange France and create a focus of disorder in Europe.