The Washington times., 1935-11-29

concern 70 tine StaVe depart
YHient over this Governments de-
termined policy 10 curb Ameri-
= can trade with the italian na-
ton. This attitude was made
known by Italian Ambassador
Augusta ROssO TO Assistant
: Secretary of State r. Walton
y Moore, who is in charge Of the
>, legal aspects Of the Govern
ment's neutrality policy.
- Is Benito Mussolini bluffing?
e American officials today be-
heved that in the answer to that
question rests the peace Of all
Europe.
:! Genuine apprehension was felt
in official quarters over Rome re-
ports that the Italian dictator
had recalled 100000 men to the
1colors and that he may again
strengthen the Italian forces near
the Anglo-Egyptian frontier.
.. This move was seen here as II
.Duce's, answer to the British
foreign Offices statement that
2Britain intended to go ahead with
plans for imposition by the League
of Nations Of an oil and steel EN-
ebargo against Italy.
= @ Oil Embargo Vital
Is was seen as threat by
Premier MuSSolini to induce both
Great Britain and France, particu-
larly the latter, to hesitate In i'm
posing the Oil embargo.
BY his actions, II Duce was seen
as warning London and Paris that
If the oil embargo Is imposed,
Italy will retaliate with military
force which may plunge Europe
into another general war.
Whether the Italian dictator is
merely bluffing in the hope OF
frightening France and Britain
away from the oil embargo. or
whether he really is ready 70 so
down fighting, was q question on
which authoritative quarters here
believed the general peace Of
Eurone rested.
Serious Concern Here
The State Department viewed
the situation with serious con.
eern.
Unless something closely akin
to a miraculous compromise solu.
tion, saving the face of Italy, the
League and Ethiopia, IL found
quickly, it was feared Britain
will be compelled by force Of
circumstances to move for i'm.
position Of the embargo.
Premier Mussolini's bluff" will
then be called. Whether he de.
cides to fight back with force or
try to carry on his military cam
paign in Ethiopia with the oil
reserves he possesses was the
question on which the immediate
peace Of Europe was seen to rest.
The view prevailed that Brit
ain and France would strive des-
perately within the next few
days to find O compromise peace
plan to avoid o showdown with
the Sabre-rattling dictator.
Meanwhile, Uncle Sam today
stripped the cloak Of secrecy from
the American arms traffic and
moved to lay the activities of
American munitions merchants
open to the full glare Of public
scrutiny.
Licensing Now In EffeLk
The licensing provision Of the
munitions control act became ef-
feetiye at midnight. From today
on, every American company
which manufactures a single i'm
plement Of war must register with
the State Department and pay q
$500 registration fee.
Furthermore, no American indi-
vidual or firm will be permitted to
ship . single bullet, rifle or other
weapon Of warfare outside the
United States without q special
export license from the Secretary
Of State. -.-.
The name Of every munitions
manufacturer and complete de-
tails Of the arms and munitions
which he manufactures, % we'll
as to whom he sells them, will be
nF1AfA Ia thA T1lfh1ic