Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-06-21

Under the caption, "Wha Europe Wants from Amer
ica,'' the London Telegraph recently said:
'EWhat Europe desires from America is an assurance
that she would In the event OF war breaking out, promptly
manifest her disapproval of the aggressor by some action
that would be to his detrlment, such as the refusal OF
protection to United States nationals trading with the of
Tending nation. 1t has long been clear that the disarma-
ment controversy has resolved itself into a vicious circle.
France will not disarm unless she is guaranteed security
against her old enemy. Germany will not cease to resent
the Versailles restrictions on her ornaments until the
French army is substantially reduced. Great Britain and
Italy have done their utmost to effect a compromise, but
without avail. American. Intervention might resolve the
difficulty, provided that it assumed a concrete and prac-
teal form. If pacts of non-aggression were multiplied a
hundredfold, France might remain suspicious and Ger
many resentful. Fear of American il-wil and of a com
mercial and financial embargo would, however, deter the
most ardent Nazis from attacking France, and the French
in their turn would cease to strive for the unattainable
ideal of absolute security. If Mr.. Roosevelt, with the full
support of congress, can offer Europe such guarantees, he
will open a new and happier era in the worlds history.
His manifesto points the way, but does not lead us OF"
It is doubtful whether this sums up the case for all Of
Europe. What France wants from Uncle Sam is the as
surance that he will send his boys across the water again
to save her in case of dire need. What Germany wants is
that the United States keep its hands off in case the
Reich at any future time resolves to take the task of re-
yising the Versailles treaty in its own hands. Perhaps the
outline which the London Telegraph so kindly gives us
on the subject is what Great Britain really wants from
Uncle Sam. This in brief is that, in case of trouble, Uncle
Sam agree not to protect American business in trading
with the nation which has been termed the "aggressor. !"
That is of course all that Great Britain, with the larg-
est nation in the world could possibly desire. Suppose
for example that war breaks out between France and
Italy. If Italy were declared the aggTessor, as she prob
ably would be since France controls the majority block
in the League of Nations, and Great Britain went along,
as she would be almost compelled to do, then American
business men would not have the protection of their gov
eminent in trying to sell our wheat, or other products to
Italy, even though we were otherwise neutral. IF we did
insist on trading with Italy under our neutral rights,
then we might get into trouble with England on the high
seas, something which Great Britain would want to avoid
if possible. So such an agreement as suggested by the
London Telegraph would be exactly what Great Britain
desired.
On the other hand if Italy were declared the aggressor,
and Great Britain did not go along with France and her
allies then even such a declaration withdrawing our pro-
lection from our merchants trying to trade with Italy,
would not affect Great Britain, because she commands
the seas and could keep the trade lanes open to Italy if
she so desired, against any combined European fleets.
Therefore if the United States signed such to refuse to
protect our people in trading with an "aggressor'' nation,
even if we had no quarrel with such nation, it would be a
"heads | win, tails you lose'' sort Of a proposition for
John Bull. It's pretty hard to beat the old boy when it
comes to a question of international diplomacy.
The only way to beat him, even negatively. is for the
United States to maintain its freedom of action under all
circumstances, dealing with each situation as it arises. in
the manner which will be to the best interest of the United
States of America.