Evening star., 1934-12-14
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM FILE.

Though the idea is by no means new,
President Roosevelt is Enthusiastically
earnest in embarking upon his crusade
to take the profit out of war" In
disclosing his plans to the press at the
White House he dwelt upon them with
something that savored of evangelical
fervor. His desire for their prompt
consideration in Congress, despite the
urgency of relief and recovery legisla-
ton, speaks volumes. No one is better
equipped than F. D. R. to weigh the
question Of war profits in the scales
of experience. AS Assistant Secretary
of the Navy during the World War,
he had opportunity to observe at close
range the haphazard set-up Of our
wartime plant, with its attendant
shortcomings, including the excessive
earnings Of industry and the unequal
mobilization of human beings" the
twin evils which his "deprof1tizing"
scheme aims to eradicate.
~
Sooner or later, many Washington
authorities are convinced, Mr.. Roose-
velt will initiate a movement to "take
the profit out of war" on a world
wide scale. Armaments and NUM-
tions, as the Nye investigation has
amply demonstrated, are information
ally interlocking propositions. More
over, hardly any Of the big arms in
dustries depend wholly upon their own
countries for dividends. They look
abroad for rich pickings. and the Nye
revelations show that they are go
getters. The wide expectation IS that
one of these days President Roosevelt,
in the idealiStic spirit of Woodrow
Wilson, will venture world leadership
in an effort to make munition-
mongering financially less attractive.
Americas current effort at Geneva to
bring about a world agreement for
control Of the arms traffic is evidence
of Uncle Sans readiness to head the
procession toward international CO.
operation in the munitions field.
WASHINGTON Ambassadors Of the
great powers are eagerly trying to
divine the true inwardness of Mr..
Roosevelt's purpose in bringing for
ward "deprof1tizing" Of war at this
particular time. The diplomats at
tach special interest to the assurance
that the Presidents move is in no
sense to be interpreted as prepared
ness" as well as to his statement that
he has made his proposal now be-
cause there are no war clouds on the
horizon. Japan Is certain to decode
this as meaning that the United
States does not anticipate any clash
with her or conflict between Japan
and the Soviet Union. Europe on
her part will see In Mr.. Roosevelt's
affirmation a gentle reminder that
the United States Is not dreaming OF
becoming embroiled in Old World
squabbles.
washington's visitors include v. ".
Ossinsky, vice chairman Of the Soviet
National Economic Planning Council,
which is in charge Of the U. S. S. RS
second flve-year plan. When Mr..
Ossinsky visited the United States
before he was in contact with Henry
Ford in connection with the Soviet's
great tractor industry. His present
mission is for the purpose Of observing
late developments in American in
dustrial practice. Soviet factories
recently turned out their first stream
lined vehicles. They are particularly
anxious to keep abreast of American
progress in the motor trade. Perhaps
Mr.. Ossinsky has some orders for
American wares up his sleeve.
X X X \
Now that Gen. Douglas Macarthur
is to retire as chief of staff in 1885,
speculation is rife as to his future
activities and who will succeed him.
A persistent report is that he Is slated
to take command Of the I'd Corps