Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-23

Congress In It's closing days is always
q center Of national interest. This year
the eyes of the whole world have been
focused on it due to its consideration
Of neutrality legislation. Many of the
other proceedings of Americas national
legislative body are watched by other
nations. either individually or in groups,
because Of their possible effect on in
ternational relations, but nothing which
has transpired at the Capitol during the
present session has been the object OF
such worldwide attention as the neu-
trality program of this Government.
The present critical situation in Europe
created by the demands of Italy on
Ethiopia and the importance of the
United States in all great international
problems has emphasized the signifi-
canoe Of It's attitude on the neutrality
issue. The question as to how far the
Congress Of the United States would
60 in defining the position of this coun-
try on that subject is one which has
been scrutinized with intense and grow
ing interest throughout the world.
~
So kaleidoscope have been the
changes in the political picture in the
United States during recent months and
with such suddenneSS have some of the
shifting moves of an economic and
financial character been thrown upon
the screen that many trained observers
here say 1t is the first time in their long
experience that they have been unable
accurately to gauge general trends" in
public affairs. Previously, they say,
they have been able through their broad
knowledge of situations to put two
and two together" and calculate with
reasonable certainty the way in which
political currents were running, but
recently, they claim, 1t has not been
possible to make such predictions with
any assurance Of success.
y ~
II any one word were to be used to
sum up more succinctly than any other
the characteristics of the present age,
it would be speed" In transportation.
communication and almost every other
field OF human activity, the methods and
the machines of decade ago-in many
instances, those Of lesser antiquity
are now obsolete or obsolescent. The
extensive Army maneuvers now taking
place at Pine Camp. N. Y, furnish a
striking example of this rapid trans
formation of modern armies, both in
methods and equipment. Nothing more
than Is years old is being used there.
Motorized units travel in an hour and
half distances that would have re-
quired a day in 1917; and divisions reach
and attack positions "a miles distant in
an hour and a half, as against day
and half only few years ago.
y X
Formal reception by President Roose-
welt Of three diplomats in one day this
week constituted precedent, as far as
State Department officials were aware,
in the presentation of credentials by
foreign ENJOYS. On several previous
occasions, two diplomats had been re-
ceived on the same day, but there was
no recollection of the number having
been extended to three. On wednesday
afternoon the Ambassador of China,
Sao-Ke Alfred SEE, Who previously filled
the post of Minister here, having re-
Gently been raised to the rank Of AM
bassador; Phya Abhibal Rajamaitri,
Minister Of Siam, and Povilas zadeikis,
Minister Of Lithuania, were received by
the President. Richard Southgate, chief
Of the division Of protocol; Julius @.
Holmes, assistant chief and Charles Lee