The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-14
Washington
Merry-Go-
Round
BY DREW PEARSON and
ROBERT 5. ALLEN.

~
w Presidents international ex-
perts already have predicted a
sweeping victory for the Conserva-
tive government in Britain's ma
tional elections today.
Rut whichever way the vote goes,
they are sure OF one thing: That
Britain will greatly increase her
naval strength-which means, Of
course. increased building for the
United States.
They are not entirely sure, how
ever, what tack British policy to-
ward Italy will take after the Con-
servatiyes are swept back into
power. The latter have not entirely
shared the religious fervor Of the
Laborites and -Wingers for
sanctions and the League of Ma
tons.
Once they have secured a safe
majority in Parliament for the next
seven years, it may be that the
Tory government will somewhat
soften its big stick attitude toward
MuSSolini.
This is the chief question mark
that the Roosevelt Administration
is waiting to see answered.
THE political situation in Great
Il Britain, as the nation goes to
the polls, can be summarized this
way:
The Labor Party is an army with
out generals; the Liberals are a
staff of generals without an army.
The old leaders Of the Labor
Party, once among the most famous
figures in the empire, are now dead,
scattered or diScredited
Arthur Henderson is dead. Ram
say Macdonald and Jim Thomas,
who have joined the Tory ranks, are
hooted and booed almost every time
they appear in public. Philip Snow
den lost prestige when he accepted
the peerage.
George Lansbury, the veteran
leader. resigned from the party in a
dispute over sanctions against Italy.
The present leader, Clement R. Att
lee, is new and untried.
Among the Liberals, the old lead
erS still remain. Lloyd George, de-
spite his age, is still potent figure.
Sir Herbert Samuel is considered
one of the ablest men in England,
while Sir John Simon, despite his
failure as foreign minister, still
commands prestige.
But they have no one to follow
them. The once-powerful Liberal
Party has dwindled to mere hand
full.
THE State Department is more
Il concerned about the landing Of
japanese troops in Shanghai than
any one officially would like to adj
nit.
Reason for the worry is confiden-
tial information which the State
Department long has had before it,
that the japanese intended to walk
in on China just as soon as the
British feet was engroSSed in the
Mediterranean.
Once before-about four weeks
ago-the japanese started to help
themselves to their wealthy, helpless
neighbor. This was at Swatow, just
opposite Hongkong, whence the
Japanese sent one cruiser and seven
destroyers on the f1imsy excuse that
a japanese cargo, loaded on
Chinese junk, had been over-taxed
by Chinese authorities.
The incident was quickly settled,
however, when the American Asiatic
Fleet anchored off Hongkong, re-
placing the British vessels which had
sailed to the Mediterranean.
The arrival of the American ships
may have been pure coincidence.
But it is significant that the British
previously had sounded out the
State Department as to what sup
port they could get from the Amer
lean fleet in case of trouble in the
Pacific.
THE present landing of japanese
L troops in Shanghai ostensibly
arises out of the murder of a Jap
| anese marlne-preSumaDly by Chi
neSe.
But Japanese have been murdered
in Shanghai many times in the past
without arousing Tokyo's resentment.
The difference today is that foreign
naval forces are absent. The Amer
lean feet is far to the South.
Tokyo has not said so in these
exact words, but the intimation is
that the British surrender their con-
troll Of Shanghai, or the japanese
will take it.
THE Commerce Department has
Il fixed three months as the trial
period before it will permit the car
rying of passengers over the new
Trans-Pacific airmail route.
Copyright, 1895, by United Feature
Syndicate. Inc.)