The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-11
Washington
Merry-Go-
Round
By DREW PEARSON and
ROBERT ). ALLEN

By DREW 1EAhSON anu
ROBERT ). ALLEN
xxTASHINGTON. Oct. ,l1.-Con-
w fdential cable reports received
here indicate that MuSsolini was not
blufing when he snapped his fingers
at the threat Of an economic and
financial boycott by the League.
The real fact is that neither boy
colt is of any immediate threat to
Italy.
A financial boycott already has
been in force against Italy as far as
London and New York money
markets are concerned. To offset
this, MusSolini has a boarded war
chest of S5000000O0 in gold and
about the same amount in foreign
securities. He figures this will be
enough. And if the war is short 1t
will be
The economic boycott is even less
worriSome-for the simple reason
that nations always are ready to
sell but not buy Mussolini knew
this when ne snapped his fingers
at the League.
Austria and Hungary and Yugo-
Slavia find Italy a lucrative market.
In need Of war supplies. Mussolini
has reduced tariff barriers 20 Yugo-
slavia and is buying large quanti-
ties of wheat pork, lumber.
Probably these countries will &C
cept the economic boycott in the
Dry but ignore it in fact.
This is why the British idea Of
a naval blockade to enforce the
boycott makes Mussolini see red.
And that is why the French have
been so loath to go along with the
British on a blockade. except at the
price of aid against Germany.
TTALY'S ambassador. Augusta
Il Rosso finally has laid at rest a
long and poignant worry Cause
of concern was not the Ethiopian
controversy, but much more per-
sonal matter.
He was fearful that when he went
to Rome to confer with his chief.
MuSsolini would raise the question
of RosSo'S unmarried status. II
Duce's dictum that Fascist officials
must get married or get out long
has disturbed him
Before the conference with Musso-
lini, Rosso asked counsel of a friend.
What shall I do if he raises the
question? I would like to tell him
it is nv private business
NO, no. do not say that" his
friend advised Simply say you are
thinking about it
Rosso came out of the conference
smiling. and sailed back to Wash
ington treasured. MusSolini did not
even mention Mrs. Rosso. He was
too busy with Ethiopia.
EVEN hard boiled diplomats. &C
II customed to an imperialistic
view of the international horizon,
are intensely bitter against Musso-
lini.
Their attitude is not influenced by
any sympathy for Ethiopia They
shrug their shoulders and point out
that the law of conquest still rules,
! that weaker countries must fall to
stronger ones.
But what they can not forgive
MuSSolini is starting his conquest at
this moment-when Europe is closer
to the Undertook than at any time
since the World War.
Should the rest of Europe be
dragged in, as most diplomats think
is inevitable, they believe that Mus
solinis name will be smeared with
more anathema than that of the
kaiser.
WE1RDEsT spot in Washington
w these days is the home of the
agency supposed to provide pen-
SONS for the nation-the Social Sc
curity Board
An air of clustered calm pervades
its halls. A staff OF four experts
and 25 stenographers go through the
motions of keeping busy.
The three board members are on
tour, comforting with state officials
and addressing legislative groups
A long line Of job-seekers waits
patiently at the personnel officers
room. Few are hired. But all APP
plicants are being examined in order
to get under way speedily when the
ultimate staff of 5000 are drafted.
The Social Security Board is
waiting for Congress to remedy the
filibustering of Huey Long-the last
minute midnight speech which ad-
journed Congress without passing
the deficiency bill with funds for the
new social security system.
4 hot international race to get in
L n on the ground floor with air.
mail routes to the Far East is under
way. British postal authorities have
notified the Postoffice Department
that they are establishing a BIZ
weekly airmail service direct from
London to Singapore.
copyright. 1885. by United Feature
Syndicate, Tncl
- Rv GoOrOn H1ark