The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-19
The Rest Of the World And US

The politician who wants Uncle Sam to crawl
into an isolated hole and pull the hole in after him
the kind who thinks that Americans should go
their way and let the rest of the world stew in its
own juice-seems to be losing ground.
Time and events are wping out all his arguments
as inexorably as the incoming tide might frustrate
an old woman's efforts to sweep it back with broom.
Secretary Of Commerce Herbert Hoover's report
shows us our foreign trade last year amounted to
nearly $4,000 oOo-ten thousand million dollars
a figure our minds simply can't grasp.
Wipe out that trade and you'd just about wipe
out our country.
Furthermore, we are old, Americans invested
$1,322O00,O00 new money in foreign countries last
year. That's an average Of $12 apiece for every
of us, not forgetting even the babies.
Including the debts foreigners now owe us
In excess of $25,0O000000G, or $225 for each man,
woman and child in the country-$1,lOo for every
head Of a family.
Each American family, therefore, has more than
thousand-doar interest in foreign countries, repre-
senting money already actually invested And every
year we are increasing the amount by more than
$1oooOo0oo0. or between $45 and $50 per family.
Our interest in foreign countries does not stop
there, however Hundreds Of thousands Of Americans
visit other lands annually not counting Canada and
Mexico, spending $761 100000 year while doing
so. It's great education.
1.-THE Nation" says Mr.. Hoover's report, seems
to have done more travelling and more lending than
ever before"
OF course. The world is growing smaller every
day. And we only at the dawn Of rapid transit.
People now living will think nothing Of breakfastng
in New York and dining in London Less and less
can we afford to ignore what happens in France or
TnN w4knav. Axaky~
odes for event there can not fail to have their
effect us here In due proportion.
War; famine, pestilence, good times or bal what
ever happens to our neighbors must react moro or
less upon Like group OF mountain climbers all
tied together by the same rope, when one moves up
q bit, he helps the rest little; and when zone
stumbles or falls, all are placed in peril.
Just there is considerable talk about the needs
of national defense particularly the naval branch
of the service There is much closer connection be-
tween this subject and Mr. Hoover's report than one
might think.
Was wipe out debts. And wars kill trade or shift
trade centers from country to another Suppose
Dur diplomacy should allow the present nti-Amercan
to go on rolling UP until day there should
be great and perhaps worldwide coalition
against usp
Defeat in such conflict would inevitably spell our
ruin If not our end.
The salvation of our country as great and pros
porous Nation lies in the cultivation of the closest
possible understanding with the other peoples Of the
world as first aid to world peace. And secondly in
an adequate national defense. including merchant
marine.
To become weak would be to invite stronger powers
to yield to colossal temptation to wipe their debt
states clean by defeating us In war.
Noblesse obIge. the adage says. Citizens Of stu
pendousy rich country we can not avoid certaiS
stupendous obligations.