The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-15
Washington
Merry-Go-
Round
BY DREW PEARSON and
ROBERT 5. ALLEN.

u "a
w few White House insiders are
aware of the speed exerted by the
President to conclude a commercial
agreement with Canada before
ArmiStice Day.
When Premier Mackenzie King
arrived in Washington. he was en-
route for holiday in Florida. But
his conversations with Roosevelt
progressed so favorably that he
about-faced to Ottawa on Sunday.
On Sunday night, the President
outlined the main portion of the
Armistice Day speech which he was
to deliver the next morning at IL
o'clock. But he left one section
blank.
That section referred to his agree
ment with Mackenzie King. The
speech was to be delivered at II. He
had told the Canadion premier he
would give him until 1920 to know
whether the Canadian cabinet APP
proved the accord.
To this end. Mackenzie King had
called his cabinet together at $50
few minutes after he stepped of
the train. Before 1890 they had
approved the full agreement-which
includes TOO items.
ID EHIND this burst of speed was .
~ definite and important new
policy of the Roosevelt Administra-
ton.
AS outlined to some of his closest
advisers just before his Armistice
Day speech, Roosevelt believes that
with Europe in turmoil, the United
States must turn much more to the
Western Hemisphere.
That was why he was so anxious
to be able to announce an agree
ment with Canada. Even more inn
portant, it was why he was willing
to risk the resentment of the farm
vote
For the tentative agreement
Roosevelt made with Mackenzie
King included tariff reductions on
such commodities as milk, cheese.
butter cattle on the hoof and cer-
tain grades of wheat.
TINE treaty may be modified be-
Il fore it sees the light of day. But
in its original form, it is a sweep
ing document. Its TOO items go Just
as far, if not farther, than the
famous reciprocity treaty proposed
by Taft.
How politically risky it is may BE-
indicated by tthe Presidents reluc-
lance to negotiate a tariff treaty
with Argentina.
More than two years ago he gave
a definite pledge of an Argentine
commercial treaty. The commod-
tiles involved were less than half
dozen, all agricultural, but none
! highly competitive with the United
States. Because of spasmodic pro-
tests from the farm belt, however,
the President has given the Argen-
tine treaty wide berth.
The day after announcement OF
the Canadian treaty, the Argentine
government demanded a definite yes
or no answer as to whether Roose-
welt meant business.
What he answers will be test Of
the future Roosevelt policy of for
getting Europe and strengthening
inter-American relations.
HIGH officials congratulating
Il Il Manuel Quezon as first presi-
dent of the Philippines today are
not saying anything about it pub
licly, but it is no secret that their
chief worry regarding the new re-
public is Japan.
With Japan now threatening even
Shanghai = stronghold of British
power in the Far East-the Philip
pines are not likely to be exempt
from at least economic penetration.
How that penetration may operate
was disclosed by an incident which
took place recently on the southern
island of Mindanao. This island is
dominated by the Moros-all Mo-
hammedan-who refuse to lease
their land to the japanese.
Christian F'ilipinos on Mindanao,
however, have leased considerable
land to the japanese, much to the
resentment of the Moros, who rose
against them last summer and mas
sacred one colony.
The japanese government,
strangely enough, made no protest
or claim for this outrage, although,
under international law, they we're
entitled to damages.
Reasons for this failure was re-
ported to have been Tokyo's unwil-
lingness to disclose the large num-
Der of japanese in Mindanao.
(There are reported to be 10000,
though this figure can not be con-
firmed.
Copyright. 1885. by United Feature
Syndicate Inc.J
> By George Clark