The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-01-18

4
WaTb;.Yeor an end to the mis-
~ ' cry and suffering
wrought by the depression; wondering
whether the Presidents program for
spending our way out of the depres-
sion is going to work, wondering |
whether our countless domestic prob |
lens can be solved-I believe most OF |
us have been overlooking grave dam
ger that appears now to be rushing
headlong at us. At the risk Of being
jingolstic, am going to record here
a conviction that a gigantic war will
be under way ere we turn Into the
lane marked 1885.
Some months ago. wrote In these
columns observations gathered In
Washington that Japan was on fence.
undetermined which way to jump.
Japan seems now to have decided
Her course, unless quickly changed,
will lead directly and with startling
suddenness Into conflict with Russia.
The great Russian bear Is fully aware
OF this. War preparation LIS going on
there and 1t Is going on feverishly In
Japan.
But that is not all. Clouds of storm
portending intensity are gathering In
| Europe. They center about another
| Franeo-German conflict And Kuss1a
| Is watching the potentialities of that
situation as we'll.
Military and naval students here,
/ and there are some of the greatest OF
/ the military and naval scientists In
| the world located in Washington. as
sure me that neither conflict De-
tween the Japanese =Rnssiafls. nor
a Franco-German controversy ending
In arms can be localized. others
among the peoples will be drawn IN,
despite efforts to keep the peace. 90
not know. nor does any of the author
tiles, WnU-. have consulted, know
whether the United Stnsea can remain
outside of the lines of battle once they
are drawn. My suspicion Is that the
United States would be dragged in.
Nations In this age cannot live to
themselves alone.
A picture OF conditions among the
powers at this writing, as given me
by men acquainted with the details,
shows relationships to be something
like this.
Russia and France regard Hitlerized
Germany as a constant menace and
they have understandings that take In
Poland and several other lesser states
that always have been aligned with
France as military allies. 1t might
be called an entente. Then, Germany
and Japan, each aware Of the forces
at work against them. have been re-
ported as trying to establish some sort
OF an agreement to act In concert
against Russia. Italy, likewise, Is said
to be playing one group against the
other In an effort to gather something
for herself. And behind the scenes
30 to speak, the British John Bull Is
shown as trading for advantages be
tween the two groups, seeking all Of
the while to avoid European conflict
but apparently out In the open, OF
nearly so, In support Of japan against
Russia.
Wilfrd Fleisher, Tokyo correspond
ent Of the New York Herald Tribune
reported 10 his
Uneasy newspaper the othel
About Japan day that ten. saaa'
Araki, japanese wal
minister, had called the attention of hi
people in speech to the fact that thi:
is dog year" He explained that Jap
anese greet 1884 with pleasure for III
dog year things come easily FL
identified a dog year" as meaning
smooth sailing In all affairs Their
! are a good many men In high place
OF our government who shnddered
. bit when they read of General Araki'
8 statement. They read into his line
d an intention to employ 1894 as a yea
/ In which to attempt to weld the civil
i cation of the Orient and the Western
q world, year to launch holy mission
. Such a religious fervor contains por
!. tents that are not pleasant to cor
template. as much because OF the In
direct, as because of the direct
effect of lighting the fuse.
AS the political maneuyers continue
q good many economic factors and dc
yelopments have been going on unnC
ticpd while we here In the Unite
States worried about the mortgag
that was due. or about job, or abou
some other purely domestic matte
For instance. a brief cable dispatc
a few days ago told of an arrange
ment by which Japan was trading fiji
ished textiles for Indian cotton.
reported that Japan would buy l,5tN
00O bales of cotton, paying for 1t wit
4o00O0,UOO yards Of cloth. Cotton is
necessary prerequisite for war PREF
aratlon.
Also, Japan has been buying scra
iron for year or more. That ia
been almost the only market for scra
iron which the United States has ha
but IT has been good market. Freigl
cars that are not OF sufficient value
be repaired are being broken dow
and the scrap shipped to japan.
80.