Advocating a strong nationalistic policy for the United States, Charles A. Beard, noted Columbia professor, defined national interest as acquiring what we need with the best possible advantage through imports and discontinuing the selling of American goods abroad. The plan he outlined raises many questions which he did not adequately concern himself with or think important.

He spoke about establishing a high standard of living for everyone but did not mention definitely what criteria he would use to determine what this was or how he would erect a standard that would be acceptable to all people and for all times. In one breath Mr. Beard spoke about the high civilization and culture of the Orientals and at the same time said they should be excluded from the United States because they caused social conflict that was unresolvable. As in most of his utterances Mr. Beard stressed economic considerations to the exclusion of all other points of view. His plan of economic self-sufficiency and isolation, moreover, would have detrimental effects upon social and cultural international relations which Mr. Beard failed to point out. It is evident, too, that he places more faith and reliance upon the desire and ability of the American people to establish a strongly national state than is justified by contemporary thinking.

Mr. Beard's desire to establish "a decent American civilization" is admirable but it is doubtful if such a plan of isolation and independence that he suggests would accomplish this purpose. Nationalism eventually leads to a false idea of unity and self-sufficiency and while not "perverse" is certainly naive, short-sighted, and counter to all the traditional ideas and laws of economics.